Proverbs14
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1 Every wise woman buildeth her house; But the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands.
2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth Jehovah; But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; But much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness will not lie; But a false witness uttereth lies.
6 A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.
7 Go into the presence of a foolish man, And thou shalt not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.
9 A trespass-offering mocketh fools; But among the upright there is good will.
10 The heart knoweth its own bitterness; And a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.
11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown; But the tent of the upright shall flourish.
12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of mirth is heaviness.
14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways; And a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
15 The simple believeth every word; But the prudent man looketh well to his going.
16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.
17 He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly; But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good; And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbor; But the rich hath many friends.
21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.
22 Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches; But the folly of fools is only folly.
25 A true witness delivereth souls; But he that uttereth lies causeth deceit.
26 In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence; And his children shall have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the king’s glory; But in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
30 A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh; But envy is the rottenness of the bones.
31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him.
32 The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing; But the righteous hath a refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding; But that which is in the inward part of fools is made known.
34 Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a servant that dealeth wisely; But his wrath will be against him that causeth shame.
Study
Proverbs 14Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Proverbs 14. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
v1
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.
v2
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.
v3
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.
Key Words
חׇכְמוֹת: wisdom
אִשָּׁה: a woman
בָּנָה: to build (literally and figuratively)
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
אִוֶּלֶת: silliness
יָד: a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
הָרַס: to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy
הָלַךְ: to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
יֹשֶׁר: the right
יָרֵא: fearing; morally, reverent
Cross References
Proverbs 14Direct parallel: both define the source of life as a fountain to depart from death's snares.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Verbal echo of 'cleanness' denoting a lack of food/famine.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel wording regarding the connection between habitual truthfulness in daily speech and formal witness-bearing.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrast between a prudent man concealing knowledge and a foolish heart blazoning its folly.
Supported by JFB
Locus classicus of the wise woman building her house through industry and piety.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identical Hebrew idiom of a false witness who 'breathes out' or 'utters' lies.
Supported by JFB
Identical contrast of the house of the wicked overthrown versus the upright standing.
Supported by JFB
Verbatim parallel describing a way that seems right but ends in death.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts the blessedness of the man who fears always with him who hardens his heart.
Supported by JFB
Direct contrast between being hasty of spirit ('short of anger') and slow to wrath.
Supported by JFB
Parallel observation that the poor is hated by neighbors while the rich has friends.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Confirms the theological ground of mercy: God is the Maker of both rich and poor.
Supported by JFB
Confirms that wisdom and knowledge are plain and easy to him who understands.
Supported by JFB
Underlines the warning that the end of temporary, sinful pleasure is bitter and heavy.
Supported by JFB
Retributive justice: the wicked and backslider are filled with the fruit of their own ways.
Supported by JFB