Proverbios 14

1 La mujer sabia edifica su casa;la necia, con sus manos la destruye.

2 El que va por buen camino teme al SEÑOR;el que va por mal camino lo desprecia.

3 De la boca del necio brota arrogancia;los labios del sabio son su propia protección.

4 Donde no hay bueyes el granero está vacío;con la fuerza del buey aumenta la cosecha.

5 El testigo verdadero jamás engaña;el testigo falso propaga mentiras.

6 El insolente busca sabiduría y no la halla;para el entendido, el conocimiento es cosa fácil.

7 Manténte a distancia del necio,pues en sus labios no hallarás conocimiento.

8 La sabiduría del prudente es discernir sus caminos,pero al necio lo engaña su propia necedad.

9 Los necios hacen mofa de sus propias faltas,pero los íntegros cuentan con el favor de Dios.

10 Cada corazón conoce sus propias amarguras,y ningún extraño comparte su alegría.

11 La casa del malvado será destruida,pero la morada del justo prosperará.

12 Hay caminos que al hombre le parecen rectos,pero que acaban por ser caminos de muerte.

13 También de reírse duele el corazón,y hay alegrías que acaban en tristeza.

14 El inconstante recibirá todo el pago de su inconstancia;el hombre bueno, el premio de sus acciones.

15 El ingenuo cree todo lo que le dicen;el prudente se fija por dónde va.

16 El sabio teme al SEÑOR y se aparta del mal,pero el necio es arrogante y se pasa de confiado.

17 El iracundo comete locuras,pero el prudente sabe aguantar.^[a]

18 Herencia de los inexpertos es la necedad;corona de los prudentes, el conocimiento.

19 Los malvados se postrarán ante los buenos;los impíos, ante el tribunal^[b] de los justos.

20 Al pobre hasta sus amigos lo aborrecen,pero son muchos los que aman al rico.

21 Es un pecado despreciar al prójimo;¡dichoso el que se compadece de los pobres!

22 Pierden el camino los que maquinan el mal,pero hallan amor y verdad los que hacen el bien.

23 Todo esfuerzo tiene su recompensa,pero quedarse solo en palabras lleva a la pobreza.

24 La corona del sabio es su sabiduría;^[c]la de los necios, su necedad.

25 El testigo veraz libra de la muerte,pero el testigo falso miente.

26 El temor del SEÑOR es un baluarte seguroque sirve de refugio a los hijos.

27 El temor del SEÑOR es fuente de vida,y aleja al hombre de las redes de la muerte.

28 Gloria del rey es gobernar a muchos;un príncipe sin súbditos está arruinado.

29 El que es paciente muestra gran discernimiento;el que es agresivo muestra mucha insensatez.

30 El corazón tranquilo da vida al cuerpo,pero la envidia corroe los huesos.

31 El que oprime al pobre ofende a su Creador,pero honra a Dios quien se apiada del necesitado.

32 El malvado cae por su propia maldad;el justo halla refugio en su integridad.^[d]

33 En el corazón de los sabios mora la sabiduría,pero los necios ni siquiera la conocen.^[e]

34 La justicia enaltece a una nación,pero el pecado deshonra a todos los pueblos.

35 El rey favorece al siervo inteligente,pero descarga su ira sobre el sinvergüenza.

Proverbios 14 Commentary

Chapter 14

Verse 1 A woman who has no fear of God, who is wilful and wasteful, and indulges her ease, will as certainly ruin her family, as if she plucked her house down. Verse 2 . Here are grace and sin in their true colours. Those that despise God's precepts and promises, despise God and all his power and mercy. Verse 3 . Pride grows from that root of bitterness which is in the heart. The root must be plucked up, or we cannot conquer this branch. The prudent words of wise men get them out of difficulties. Verse 4 . There can be no advantage without something which, though of little moment, will affright the indolent. Verse 5 . A conscientious witness will not dare to represent anything otherwise than according to his knowledge. Verse 6 . A scorner treats Divine things with contempt. He that feels his ignorance and unworthiness will search the Scriptures in a humble spirit. Verse 7 . We discover a wicked man if there is no savour of piety in his discourse. Verse 8 . We are travellers, whose concern is, not to spy out wonders, but to get to their journey's end; to understand the rules we are to walk by, also the ends we are to walk toward. The bad man cheats himself, and goes on in his mistake. Verse 9 . Foolish and profane men consider sin a mere trifle, to be made light of rather than mourned over. Fools mock at the sin-offering; but those that make light of sin, make light of Christ. Verse 10 . We do not know what stings of conscience, or consuming passions, torment the prosperous sinner. Nor does the world know the peace of mind a serious Christian enjoys, even in poverty and sickness. Verse 11 . Sin ruins many great families; whilst righteousness often raises and strengthens even mean families. Verse 12 . The ways of carelessness, of worldliness, and of sensuality, seem right to those that walk in them; but self-deceivers prove self-destroyers. See the vanity of carnal mirth. Verse 14 . Of all sinners backsliders will have the most terror when they reflect on their own ways. Verse 15 . Eager readiness to believe what others say, has ever proved mischievous. The whole world was thus ruined at first. The man who is spiritually wise, depends on the Saviour alone for acceptance. He is watchful against the enemies of his salvation, by taking heed to God's word. Verse 16 . Holy fear guards against every thing unholy. Verse 17 . An angry man is to be pitied as well as blamed; but the revengeful is more hateful. Verse 18 . Sin is the shame of sinners; but wisdom is the honour of the wise. Verse 19 . Even bad men acknowledge the excellency of God's people. Verse 20 . Friendship in the world is governed by self-interest. It is good to have God our Friend; he will not desert us. Verse 21 . To despise a man for his employment or appearance is a sin. Verse 22 . How wisely those consult their own interest, who not only do good, but devise it! Verse 23 . Labour of the head, or of the hand, will turn to some good account. But if men's religion runs all out in talk and noise, they will come to nothing. Verse 24 . The riches of men of wisdom and piety enlarge their usefulness. Verse 25 . An upright man will venture the ( proverbs 14:26-27 ) Those who fear the Lord so as to obey and serve him, have a strong ground of confidence, and will be preserved. Let us seek to this Fountain of life, that we may escape the snares of death. Verse 28 . Let all that wish well to the kingdom of Christ, do what they can, that many may be added to his church. Verse 29 . A mild, patient man is one that learns of Christ, who is Wisdom itself. Unbridled passion is folly made known. Verse 30 . An upright, contented, and benevolent mind, tends to health. Verse 31 . To oppress the poor is to reproach our Creator. Verse 32 . The wicked man has his soul forced from him; he dies in his sins, under the guilt and power of them. But godly men, though they have pain and some dread of death, have the blessed hope, which God, who cannot lie, has given them. Verse 33 . Wisdom possesses the heart, and thus regulates the affections and tempers. Verse 34 . Piety and holiness always promote industry, sobriety, and honesty. Verse 35 . The great King who reigns over heaven and earth, will reward faithful servants who honour his gospel by the proper discharge of the duties of their stations: he despises not the services of the lowest.

Footnotes

• [a]. "sabe aguantar " (LXX); "es odiado " (TM).
• [b]. "ante el tribunal" . Lit. "ante la puerta" .
• [c]. "su sabiduría " (LXX); "su riqueza " (TM).
• [d]. "en su integridad " (LXX y Siríaca); "en su muerte " (TM).
• [e]. "los necios ni siquiera la conocen " (LXX y Siríaca); "los necios la conocen " (TM).

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST KINGS 4

As in the preceding chapter we have a proof of the wisdom and understanding which the Lord gave to Solomon, as promised, so in this an account is given of the riches and honour he was possessed of; of him, as king over all Israel, and of his princes, 1Ki 4:1-6; of the providers of food for his household in the several parts of the land, 1Ki 4:7-19; of the largeness and extent of his dominions, and of the peace and prosperity thereof, 1Ki 4:20,21,24,25; of his daily provisions for his household and for his cattle, 1Ki 4:22,23,26-28; and of his superior wisdom and knowledge to all others in all nations, which brought some out of all to hear it, 1Ki 4:29-34.