Proverbes 14

1 Toute femme sage bâtit sa maison; mais la folle la renverse de ses mains.

2 Celui qui marche dans la droiture, révère l'Éternel; mais celui dont les voies sont perverses, le méprise.

3 La bouche de l'insensé est une verge pour son orgueil; mais les lèvres des sages les gardent.

4 Où il n'y a point de bœuf, la grange est vide; mais la force du bœuf fait abonder le revenu.

5 Le témoin fidèle ne ment jamais; mais le faux témoin avance des faussetés.

6 Le moqueur cherche la sagesse et ne la trouve point; mais la science est aisée à trouver pour un homme entendu.

7 Éloigne-toi de l'homme insensé, puisque tu ne connais pas en lui de paroles sages.

8 La sagesse d'un homme habile est de prendre garde à sa voie; mais la folie des insensés, c'est la fraude.

9 Les insensés se raillent du péché; mais la bienveillance est parmi les hommes droits.

10 Le cœur de chacun sent l'amertume de son âme; et un autre n'aura point de part à sa joie.

11 La maison des méchants sera détruite; mais la tente des hommes droits fleurira.

12 Il y a telle voie qui semble droite à l'homme, mais dont l'issue est la voie de la mort.

13 Même en riant le cœur sera triste; et la joie finit par l'ennui.

14 Celui qui a le cœur pervers, sera rassasié de ses voies; mais l'homme de bien se rassasie de ce qui est en lui-même.

15 Un homme simple croit tout ce qu'on dit; mais l'homme bien avisé considère ses pas.

16 Le sage craint, et il évite le mal; mais l'insensé est arrogant et plein de sécurité.

17 L'homme emporté fait des folies; et l'homme rusé est haï.

18 Les imprudents possèdent la folie; mais les bien avisés sont couronnés de science.

19 Les méchants seront humiliés devant les bons, et les impies seront aux portes du juste.

20 Le pauvre est haï, même de son ami; mais les amis du riche sont en grand nombre.

21 Celui qui méprise son prochain, s'égare; mais celui qui a pitié des affligés, est heureux.

22 Ceux qui machinent du mal, ne se fourvoient-ils pas? Mais la miséricorde et la vérité seront pour ceux qui procurent le bien.

23 En tout travail il y a quelque profit; mais les vains discours ne tournent qu'à disette.

24 La richesse est une couronne pour le sage; mais la folie des insensés est toujours folie.

25 Le témoin fidèle délivre les âmes; mais celui qui prononce des mensonges, n'est que tromperie.

26 Il y a une ferme assurance dans la crainte de l'Éternel; et il y aura une sûre retraite pour les enfants de celui qui le craint.

27 La crainte de l'Éternel est une source de vie, pour détourner des pièges de la mort.

28 Dans la multitude du peuple est la gloire d'un roi; mais quand le peuple manque, c'est la ruine du prince.

29 Celui qui est lent à la colère est d'un grand sens; mais celui qui est prompt à se courroucer, étale sa folie.

30 Un cœur tranquille est la vie du corps; mais l'envie est la carie des os.

31 Celui qui fait tort au pauvre, déshonore celui qui l'a fait; mais celui-là l'honore qui a pitié du nécessiteux.

32 Dans le malheur, le méchant est renversé; mais le juste reste en assurance, même dans la mort.

33 La sagesse repose dans le cœur de l'homme entendu; elle est même reconnue au milieu des insensés.

34 La justice élève une nation; mais le péché est la honte des peuples.

35 La faveur du roi est pour le serviteur prudent; mais il aura de l'indignation contre celui qui lui fait honte.

Proverbes 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.

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.