Proverbs 14:19

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Proverbs 14:19 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The evil bow down before the good; And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The evil bow down before the good; And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.
Proverbs 14:19 — American Standard Version

Context — Proverbs 14

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
19The evil bow down before the good; And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“He that goeth about [as] a talebearer revealeth secrets, etc.] Or, “he that revealeth secrets goeth about as a talebearer”; a man that has really got the secrets of others out of them respecting themselves and families, and the affairs of them, or however pretends he master of them; goes about telling his tales from house to house, to the great prejudice of those whose secrets he is entrusted with, or pretends to be; and to the great prejudice of those to whom he tells them, as well as to his own; this is contrary to the law of Moses, and the rules of Christianity, (<031916>Leviticus 19:16 <540513>1 Timothy 5:13); therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips; or “mingle not…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Describes the humbling of the wicked by the punishment their sins incur.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The evil - Good men shall have the pre - eminency over the wicked. Proverbs 14:20”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Gen 42:6, Gen 43:28; Exo 8:8, Exo 9:27, Exo 9:28, Exo 11:8; Kg2 3:12; Est 7:7, Est 7:8; Psa 49:14; Isa 60:14; Mic 7:9, Mic 7:10, Mic 7:16, Mic 7:17; Mal 4:3; Act 16:39; Rev 3:9 Proverbs 14:20”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“19 The wicked must bow before the good, And the godless stand at the doors of the righteous. The good, viz., that which is truly good, which has love as its principle, always at last holds the supremacy. The good men who manifest love to men which flows from love to God, come finally forward, so that the wicked, who for a long time played the part of lords, bow themselves willingly or unwillingly before them, and often enough it comes about that godless men fall down from their prosperity and their places of honour so low, that they post themselves at the entrance of the stately dwelling of the righteous ( Pro 13:22), waiting for his going out and in, or seeking an occasion of presenting to…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification