BibleWord.ai›Bible›Proverbs›Chapter 14

Proverbs Chapter 14

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry 35 Verses

What is Proverbs 14 about?

Practical wisdom for daily life, family, work, and worship, all rooted in the fear of the LORD. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Every wise woman buildeth her house; But the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands.
2He that walketh in his uprightness feareth Jehovah; But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for [his] pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
4Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; But much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5A faithful witness will not lie; But a false witness uttereth lies.
6A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and [findeth it] not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.
7Go into the presence of a foolish man, And thou shalt not perceive [in him] the lips of knowledge.
8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.
9A trespass-offering mocketh fools; But among the upright there is good will.
10The heart knoweth its own bitterness; And a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.
11The house of the wicked shall be overthrown; But the tent of the upright shall flourish.
12There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.
13Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of mirth is heaviness.
14The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways; And a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself.
15The simple believeth every word; But the prudent man looketh well to his going.
16A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.
17He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated.
18The simple inherit folly; But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19The evil bow down before the good; And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.
20The poor is hated even of his own neighbor; But the rich hath many friends.
21He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.
22Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth [shall be to] them that devise good.
23In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury.
24The crown of the wise is their riches; [But] the folly of fools is [only] folly.
25A true witness delivereth souls; But he that uttereth lies [causeth] deceit.
26In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence; And his children shall have a place of refuge.
27The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.
28In the multitude of people is the king`s glory; But in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
30A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh; But envy is the rottenness of the bones.
31He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him.
32The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing; But the righteous hath a refuge in his death.
33Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding; But [that which is] in the inward part of fools is made known.
34Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people.
35The king`s favor is toward a servant that dealeth wisely; But his wrath will be [against] him that causeth shame.
← Proverbs 13Proverbs 15 →

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Every wise woman buildeth her house, etc.] Not only by her fruitfulness, as Leah and Rachel built up the house of Israel; but by her good housewifery, prudent economy; looking well to the ways of her household; guiding the affairs of her house with discretion; keeping all things in a good decorum; and bringing up her children in virtue, and in the fear and admonition of the Lord. So Christ, who in this book goes by the name of “Wisdom”, or the wise woman, builds his house upon himself, the Rock; and all his people on their most holy faith, by means of the ministry of the word, and administration of ordinances: he…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“(Pro. 14:1-35) Every wise, &c.--literally, "The wisdoms" (compare Pro 9:1) "of women," plural, a distributive form of speech. buildeth . . . house--increases wealth, which the foolish, by mismanagement, lessen.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Every wise woman - literally, Wise women. The fullest recognition that has as yet met us of the importance of woman, for good or evil, in all human society. return to 'Top of Page'”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“Buildeth - Maintains and improves her family and estate. Her hands - By her idleness or sin. Proverbs 14:3”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“14:1 Building or tearing down the home is a metaphor for strengthening or weakening one’s family.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“wise: Pro 24:3, Pro 24:4, 31:10-31; Rut 4:11 the foolish: Pro 9:13-15, Pro 19:13, Pro 21:9, Pro 21:19; Kg1 16:31, Kg1 21:24, Kg1 21:25; Kg2 11:1 Proverbs 14:2”
Read attributed excerpt →
Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“1 The wisdom of the woman buildeth her house, And folly teareth it down with its own hands. Were it חכמות נשׁים, after Jdg 5:29, cf. Isa 19:11, then the meaning would be: the wise among women, each of them buildeth her house. But why then not just אשּׁה חכמה, as Sa2 14:2, cf. Exo 35:25? The Syr., Targum, and Jerome write sapiens mulier. And if the whole class must be spoken of, why again immediately the individualizing in בּנתה? The lxx obliterates that by its ᾠκοδόμησαν. And does not אוּלת \[folly\] in the contrasted proverb (1b) lead us to conclude on a similar abstract in 1a? The translators conceal this,…”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Proverbs overviewCompare translationsOpen this chapter in the study reader

Sources and verification