14
📚Every wise 📖 woman builds her house, but the foolish 📖 pulls it down with her hands.
2 📚He who walks in his uprightness
fears 📖 the LORD,
but he who is perverse
in his ways despises 📖 him.
3 📚In the mouth of the foolish is
a rod of pride,
but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 📚Where there are no oxen
the manger is clean,
but much increase comes
by the strength of the ox.
5 📚A faithful witness will not lie,
but a false witness will utter lies 📖.
6 📚A scorner 📖 seeks wisdom
but does not find it,
but knowledge is easy to him
who has understanding.
7 📚Leave the presence of a foolish man,
when you do not see the lips
of knowledge in him.
8 📚The wisdom of the prudent is
to understand his way,
but the folly of fools is deceit 📖.
9 📚Fools make a mock 📖 at sin,
but among the righteous there is
good will.
10 📚The heart knows its own bitterness,
and a stranger does not share its joy.
11 📚The house of the wicked will be
overthrown,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 📚There is a way which seems right
to a man,
but its end is the way of death.
14:12 Prov 12:15; 16:25; Matt 7:13-14, 22, 23. There is only one way which leads to eternal life and heaven. There are many ways that lead to death and hell. Each of those ways may seem right to the people taking them, because Satan has deceived them, and they are ignorant of the true way (John 12:35; 2 Cor 4:3-4; 1 John 2:11; Rev 12:9). Did Solomon have one particular false way in mind? If so, it was probably the way of the fool who rejects the fear of the Lord and has no heart to walk in God’s way. For this is the way that is the basis of all false ways.⚜
13 📚Even in laughter the heart may be
sorrowful,
and the end of that joy may be grief.
14 📚The backslider in heart will be filled
with his own ways,
and a good man will find satisfaction
with his.
15 📚The simple believes every word,
but the prudent man considers
his steps.
14:15 If people do not have the wisdom the Bible teaches they are easily deceived. This accounts for the fact of so much false religion in the world.⚜
16 📚A wise person fears and
departs from evil,
but the fool confidently rushes ahead.
17 📚He who becomes angry
quickly deals foolishly,
and a man who devises evil is hated.
18 📚The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned
with knowledge.
19 📚The evil will bow before the good,
and the wicked at the gates
of the righteous.
14:19 This could mean that evil, wicked men will come to ruin and will need to come to the righteous for help. Or it could mean that God will eventually cause this to happen as in Rev 3:9.⚜
20 📚The poor is hated even
by his own neighbour,
but the rich has many friends.
14:20 Prov 19:4. But how false are those friends who are attracted only by money!⚜
21 📚He who despises his neighbour 📖 sins,
but happy is he who has mercy
on the poor 📖.
22 📚Do those who devise evil 📖 not go astray?
But those who plan good will find 📖
mercy and truth.
23 📚In all labour there is profit,
but the talk of the lips results
only in poverty.
14:23 Eccl 9:10; 11:6; 1 Thess 4:11; 2 Thess 3:10-12. In the church also there are far too many talkers, too few workers.⚜
24 📚The crown of the wise is
their riches,
but the foolishness of fools is folly.
25 📚A true witness rescues souls,
but a deceitful witness speaks lies.
14:25 This is most abundantly true regarding spiritual matters. A witness to God’s truth saves people from eternal death.⚜
26 📚In the fear of the LORD is
strong confidence,
and his children will have a place of refuge.
14:26 He who fears God does not need to fear anything or anyone else.⚜
27 📚The fear of the LORD is
a fountain of life,
turning people aside from
the snares of death.
14:27 It is a fountain of life because by it a person turns from evil deeds and false paths.⚜
28 📚A large population is
the king’s glory,
but a lack of people is the ruin
of the prince.
29 📚He who is slow to get angry 📖 has
great understanding,
but he who is quick-tempered
exalts folly.
30 📚A sound heart is the life
of the body,
but envy the rottenness of the bones.
14:30 Our state of mind and desires affect the health of the body.⚜
31 📚He who oppresses the poor
insults his Maker,
but he who honours him has mercy
on the needy.
32 📚The wicked is overthrown
by his wickedness,
but the righteous has hope in his death.
33 📚Wisdom rests in the heart of him
who has understanding,
but the heart of fools becomes known.
34 📚Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
14:34 Prov 11:11. Israel was exalted when it stood for justice and right. It fell to ruin when it abandoned them.⚜
35 📚The king shows favour
to a wise servant,
but his wrath is against him
who causes shame.