1 Every wise H2454 woman H802 buildeth H1129 her house: H1004 but the foolish H200 plucketh it down H2040 with her hands. H3027
It is better H2896 to dwell H3427 in a corner H6438 of the housetop, H1406 than with a brawling H4079 H4066 woman H802 in a wide H2267 house. H1004
It is better H2896 to dwell H3427 in the wilderness, H776 H4057 than with a contentious H4079 H4066 and an angry H3708 woman. H802
Who can find H4672 a virtuous H2428 woman? H802 for her price H4377 is far H7350 above rubies. H6443 The heart H3820 of her husband H1167 doth safely trust H982 in her, so that he shall have no need H2637 of spoil. H7998 She will do H1580 him good H2896 and not evil H7451 all the days H3117 of her life. H2416 She seeketh H1875 wool, H6785 and flax, H6593 and worketh H6213 willingly H2656 with her hands. H3709 She is like the merchants' H5503 ships; H591 she bringeth H935 her food H3899 from afar. H4801 She riseth H6965 also while it is yet night, H3915 and giveth H5414 meat H2964 to her household, H1004 and a portion H2706 to her maidens. H5291 She considereth H2161 a field, H7704 and buyeth H3947 it: with the fruit H6529 of her hands H3709 she planteth H5193 a vineyard. H3754 She girdeth H2296 her loins H4975 with strength, H5797 and strengtheneth H553 her arms. H2220 She perceiveth H2938 that her merchandise H5504 is good: H2896 her candle H5216 goeth not out H3518 by night. H3915 She layeth H7971 her hands H3027 to the spindle, H3601 and her hands H3709 hold H8551 the distaff. H6418 She stretcheth out H6566 her hand H3709 to the poor; H6041 yea, she reacheth forth H7971 her hands H3027 to the needy. H34 She is not afraid H3372 of the snow H7950 for her household: H1004 for all her household H1004 are clothed H3847 with scarlet. H8144 She maketh H6213 herself coverings of tapestry; H4765 her clothing H3830 is silk H8336 and purple. H713 Her husband H1167 is known H3045 in the gates, H8179 when he sitteth H3427 among the elders H2205 of the land. H776 She maketh H6213 fine linen, H5466 and selleth H4376 it; and delivereth H5414 girdles H2289 unto the merchant. H3669 Strength H5797 and honour H1926 are her clothing; H3830 and she shall rejoice H7832 in time H3117 to come. H314 She openeth H6605 her mouth H6310 with wisdom; H2451 and in her tongue H3956 is the law H8451 of kindness. H2617 She looketh well H6822 to the ways H1979 H1979 of her household, H1004 and eateth H398 not the bread H3899 of idleness. H6104 Her children H1121 arise up, H6965 and call her blessed; H833 her husband H1167 also, and he praiseth H1984 her. Many H7227 daughters H1323 have done H6213 virtuously, H2428 but thou excellest H5927 them all. Favour H2580 is deceitful, H8267 and beauty H3308 is vain: H1892 but a woman H802 that feareth H3373 the LORD, H3068 she shall be praised. H1984 Give H5414 her of the fruit H6529 of her hands; H3027 and let her own works H4639 praise H1984 her in the gates. H8179
Through wisdom H2451 is an house H1004 builded; H1129 and by understanding H8394 it is established: H3559 And by knowledge H1847 shall the chambers H2315 be filled H4390 with all precious H3368 and pleasant H5273 riches. H1952
And all the people H5971 that were in the gate, H8179 and the elders, H2205 said, H559 We are witnesses. H5707 The LORD H3068 make H5414 the woman H802 that is come H935 into thine house H1004 like Rachel H7354 and like Leah, H3812 which two H8147 did build H1129 the house H1004 of Israel: H3478 and do H6213 thou worthily H2428 in Ephratah, H672 and be famous H7121 H8034 in Bethlehem: H1035
A foolish H3687 woman H802 is clamorous: H1993 she is simple, H6615 and H1077 knoweth H3045 nothing. H4100 For she sitteth H3427 at the door H6607 of her house, H1004 on a seat H3678 in the high places H4791 of the city, H7176 To call H7121 passengers H5674 H1870 who go right H3474 on their ways: H734
A foolish H3684 son H1121 is the calamity H1942 of his father: H1 and the contentions H4079 of a wife H802 are a continual H2956 dropping. H1812
And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing H7043 for him to walk H3212 in the sins H2403 of Jeroboam H3379 the son H1121 of Nebat, H5028 that he took H3947 to wife H802 Jezebel H348 the daughter H1323 of Ethbaal H856 king H4428 of the Zidonians, H6722 and went H3212 and served H5647 Baal, H1168 and worshipped H7812 him.
Him that dieth H4191 of Ahab H256 in the city H5892 the dogs H3611 shall eat; H398 and him that dieth H4191 in the field H7704 shall the fowls H5775 of the air H8064 eat. H398 But there was none like unto Ahab, H256 which did sell H4376 himself to work H6213 wickedness H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD, H3068 whom Jezebel H348 his wife H802 stirred up. H5496
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.