23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
23 In all labour H6089 there is profit: H4195 but the talk H1697 of the lips H8193 tendeth only to penury. H4270
24 The crown H5850 of the wise H2450 is their riches: H6239 but the foolishness H200 of fools H3684 is folly. H200
25 A true H571 witness H5707 delivereth H5337 souls: H5315 but a deceitful H4820 witness speaketh H6315 lies. H3577
26 In the fear H3374 of the LORD H3068 is strong H5797 confidence: H4009 and his children H1121 shall have a place of refuge. H4268
27 The fear H3374 of the LORD H3068 is a fountain H4726 of life, H2416 to depart H5493 from the snares H4170 of death. H4194
28 In the multitude H7230 of people H5971 is the king's H4428 honour: H1927 but in the want H657 of people H3816 is the destruction H4288 of the prince. H7333
29 He that is slow H750 to wrath H639 is of great H7227 understanding: H8394 but he that is hasty H7116 of spirit H7307 exalteth H7311 folly. H200
30 A sound H4832 heart H3820 is the life H2416 of the flesh: H1320 but envy H7068 the rottenness H7538 of the bones. H6106
31 He that oppresseth H6231 the poor H1800 reproacheth H2778 his Maker: H6213 but he that honoureth H3513 him hath mercy H2603 on the poor. H34
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.
23 In all labour there is advantage, And a thing of the lips `is' only to want.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, The folly of fools `is' folly.
25 A true witness is delivering souls, And a deceitful one breatheth out lies.
26 In the fear of Jehovah `is' strong confidence, And to His sons there is a refuge.
27 The fear of Jehovah `is' a fountain of life, To turn aside from snares of death.
28 In the multitude of a people `is' the honour of a king, And in lack of people the ruin of a prince.
29 Whoso is slow to anger `is' of great understanding, And whoso is short in temper is exalting folly.
30 A healed heart `is' life to the flesh, And rottenness to the bones `is' envy.
31 An oppressor of the poor reproacheth his Maker, And whoso is honouring Him Is favouring the needy.
23 In all labour there is profit; but the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to want.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches; the folly of the foolish is folly.
25 A true witness delivereth souls; but deceit uttereth lies.
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, to turn away from the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the king's glory; but in the lack of people is the ruin of a prince.
29 He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh; but envy the rottenness of the bones.
31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; but he that honoureth Him is gracious to the needy.
23 In all hard work there is profit, But the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches, But the folly of fools crowns them with folly.
25 A truthful witness saves souls, But a false witness is deceitful.
26 In the fear of Yahweh is a secure fortress, And he will be a refuge for his children.
27 The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life, Turning people from the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the king's glory, But in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who has a quick temper displays folly.
30 The life of the body is a heart at peace, But envy rots the bones.
31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, But he who is kind to the needy honors him.
23 In all hard work there is profit, but talk only makes a man poor.
24 Their wisdom is a crown to the wise, but their foolish behaviour is round the head of the unwise.
25 A true witness is the saviour of lives; but he who says false things is a cause of deceit.
26 For him in whose heart is the fear of the Lord there is strong hope: and his children will have a safe place.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, by which one may be turned from the nets of death.
28 A king's glory is in the number of his people: and for need of people a ruler may come to destruction.
29 He who is slow to be angry has great good sense; but he whose spirit is over-quick gives support to what is foolish.
30 A quiet mind is the life of the body, but envy is a disease in the bones.
31 He who is hard on the poor puts shame on his Maker; but he who has mercy on those who are in need gives him honour.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 14
Commentary on Proverbs 14 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 14
Pr 14:1-35.
1. Every wise, &c.—literally, "The wisdoms" (compare Pr 9:1) "of women," plural, a distributive form of speech.
buildeth … house—increases wealth, which the foolish, by mismanagement, lessen.
2. uprightness—is the fruit of fearing God, as falsehood and ill-nature (Pr 2:15; 3:32) of despising Him and His law.
3. rod of pride—that is, the punishment of pride, which they evince by their words. The words of the wise procure good to them.
4. crib is clean—empty; so "cleanness of teeth" denotes want of food (compare Am 4:6). Men get the proper fruit of their doings (Ga 6:7).
5. A faithful witness, &c.—one tested to be such.
utter lies—or, "breathe out lies"—that is, habitually lies (Pr 6:19; compare Ac 9:1). Or the sense is, that habitual truthfulness, or lying, will be evinced in witness-bearing.
6. An humble, teachable spirit succeeds in seeking (Pr 8:9; Joh 7:17; Jas 1:5, 6).
7. Avoid the society of those who cannot teach you.
8. Appearances deceive the thoughtless, but the prudent discriminate.
9. Fools make a mock at sin—or, "Sin deludes fools."
righteous … favour—that is, of God, instead of the punishment of sin.
10. Each one best knows his own sorrows or joys.
11. (Compare Pr 12:7). The contrast of the whole is enhanced by that of house and tabernacle, a permanent and a temporary dwelling.
12. end thereof—or, "reward," what results (compare Pr 5:4).
ways of death—leading to it.
13. The preceding sentiment illustrated by the disappointments of a wicked or untimely joy.
14. filled … ways—receive retribution (Pr 1:31).
a good man … himself—literally, "is away from such," will not associate with him.
15. The simple … word—He is credulous, not from love, but heedlessness (Pr 13:16).
16. (Compare Pr 3:7; 28:14).
rageth—acts proudly and conceitedly.
17. He … angry—literally, "short of anger" (compare Pr 14:29, opposite idea).
man … hated—that is, the deliberate evildoer is more hated than the rash.
18. inherit—as a portion (compare Pr 3:35).
are crowned—literally, "are surrounded with it," abound in it.
19. Describes the humbling of the wicked by the punishment their sins incur.
20. This sad but true picture of human nature is not given approvingly, but only as a fact.
21. For such contempt of the poor is contrasted as sinful with the virtuous compassion of the good.
22. As usual, the interrogative negative strengthens the affirmative.
mercy and truth—that is, God's (Ps 57:3; 61:7).
23. labour—painful diligence.
talk … penury—idle and vain promises and plans.
24. (Compare Pr 3:16).
foolishness … folly—Folly remains, or produces folly; it has no benefit.
25. Life often depends on truth-telling.
a deceitful … lies—He that breathes out lies is deceit, not to be trusted (Pr 14:5).
26. The blessings of piety descend to children (Pr 13:22; 20:7; Ex 20:6).
27. (Compare Pr 13:14).
fear of the Lord—or, "law of the wise," is wisdom (Ps 111:10).
28. The teaching of a true political economy.
29. slow … understanding—(Compare Pr 14:17).
hasty—(Compare Pr 14:17).
exalteth folly—makes it conspicuous, as if delighting to honor it.
30. A sound heart—both literally and figuratively, a source of health; in the latter sense, opposed to the known effect of evil passions on health.
31. reproacheth his Maker—who is the God of such, as well as of the rich (Pr 22:2; Job 31:15; and specially 1Sa 2:8; Ps 113:7).
32. driven—thrust out violently (compare Ps 35:5, 6).
hath hope—trusteth (Pr 10:2; 11:4; Ps 2:12), implying assurance of help.
33. resteth—preserved in quietness for use, while fools blazon their folly (Pr 12:23; 13:16).
34. Righteousness—just principles and actions.
exalteth—raises to honor.
is a reproach—brings on them the ill-will of others (compare Pr 13:6).
35. wise—discreet or prudent.
causeth shame—(Pr 10:5; 12:4) acts basely.