Proverbs 14:20-35

20 ¹The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, ²but the rich has many friends.

21 Whoever ³despises his neighbor is a sinner, but ⁴blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

22 Do they not go astray who ⁵devise evil? Those who devise good meet^[a]6steadfast love and faithfulness.

23 In all toil there is profit, but mere talk ⁷tends only to poverty.

24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly.

25 A truthful witness saves lives, but one who ⁸breathes out lies is deceitful.

26 In the fear of the LORD one has ⁹strong confidence, and ¹⁰his children will have ¹¹a refuge.

27 The fear of the LORD is ¹²a fountain of life, that one may ¹³turn away from the snares of death.

28 In ¹⁴a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.

29 Whoever is ¹⁵slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

30 A tranquil^[b] heart gives ¹⁶life to the flesh, but ¹⁷envy^[c] makes ¹⁸the bones rot.

31 Whoever oppresses a poor man ¹⁹insults his ²⁰Maker, ²¹but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

32 ²²The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but ²³the righteous finds refuge in his death.

33 Wisdom ²⁴rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.^[d]

34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

35 A servant who deals wisely has ²⁵the king's favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

Proverbs 14:20-35 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

• 1. Proverbs 19:7
• 2. Proverbs 19:4
• 3. Proverbs 11:12
• 4. Psalms 41:1
• 5. See Proverbs 3:29
• 6. Proverbs 3:3
• 7. [Proverbs 11:24; Proverbs 21:5; Proverbs 22:16]
• 8. ver. 5
• 9. [Proverbs 1:33]
• 10. [Psalms 73:15]
• 11. See Psalms 14:6
• 12. See Proverbs 10:11
• 13. See Proverbs 13:14
• 14. [1 Kings 4:20]
• 15. Proverbs 16:32; Proverbs 19:11; [ver. 17; Ecclesiastes 7:9; James 1:19]
• 16. See Proverbs 4:22
• 17. [Psalms 112:10]
• 18. Proverbs 12:4
• 19. Proverbs 17:5; [Matthew 25:40, 45]
• 20. Proverbs 22:2; See Job 35:10
• 21. Proverbs 28:8
• 22. Proverbs 24:16
• 23. Genesis 49:18; Psalms 16:11; Psalms 17:15; Psalms 23:4; 2 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 2 Timothy 4:18; [Numbers 23:10]; See Job 19:25-27
• 24. Ecclesiastes 7:9; Proverbs 12:16; Proverbs 29:11
• 25. [Proverbs 16:13; Proverbs 22:11]; See Matthew 24:45-47

Footnotes

• [a]. Or show
• [b]. Or healing
• [c]. Or jealousy
• [d]. Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools