16 A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil , But a fool is arrogant and careless .
17 A quick-tempered e man acts foolishly , And a man of evil devices is hated .
18 The naive inherit foolishness , But the sensible are crowned with knowledge .
19 The evil will bow down before the good , And the wicked at the gates of the righteous .
20 The poor is hated even by his neighbor , But those who love the rich are many .
21 He who despises his neighbor sins , But happy is he who is gracious to the poor .
22 Will they not go astray who devise evil ? But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good .
23 In all labor there is profit , But mere talk leads only to poverty .
24 The crown of the wise is their riches , But the folly of fools is foolishness .
25 A truthful witness saves lives , But he who utters lies is treacherous .
26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence , And his children will have refuge . 27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life , That one may avoid the snares of death .
28 In a multitude of people is a king's glory , But in the dearth of people is a prince's ruin .
29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding , But he who is quick-tempered e exalts folly .
30 A tranquil heart is life to the body , But passion is rottenness to the bones .
31 He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker , But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked is thrust down by his wrongdoing , But the righteous has a refuge when he dies .
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding , But in the hearts of fools it is made known .
34 Righteousness exalts a nation , But sin is a disgrace to any people .
35 The king's favor is toward a servant who acts wisely , But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 14:16-35
Commentary on Proverbs 14:16
(Read Proverbs 14:16)
Holy fear guards against every thing unholy.
Commentary on Proverbs 14:17
(Read Proverbs 14:17)
An angry man is to be pitied as well as blamed; but the revengeful is more hateful.
Commentary on Proverbs 14:18
(Read Proverbs 14:18)
Sin is the shame of sinners; but wisdom is the honour of the wise.
Commentary on Proverbs 14:19
(Read Proverbs 14:19)
Even bad men acknowledge the excellency of God's people.
Commentary on Proverbs 14:20
(Read Proverbs 14:20)
Friendship in the world is governed by self-interest. It is good to have God our Friend; he will not desert us.
Commentary on Proverbs 14:21
(Read Proverbs 14:21)
To despise a man for his employment or appearance is a sin.
Commentary on Proverbs 14:22
(Read Proverbs 14:22)
How wisely those consult their own interest, who not only do good, but devise it!
Commentary on Proverbs 14:23
(Read Proverbs 14:23)
Labour of the head, or of the hand, will turn to some good account. But if men's religion runs all out in talk and noise, they will come to nothing.
Commentary on Proverbs 14:24
(Read Proverbs 14:24)
The riches of men of wisdom and piety enlarge their usefulness.
Commentary on Proverbs 14:25
(Read Proverbs 14:25)
An upright man will venture the displeasure of the greatest, to bring truth to light.
Commentary on Proverbs 14:26-27
(Read Proverbs 14:26-27)
Those who fear the Lord so as to obey and serve him, have a strong ground of confidence, and will be preserved. Let us seek to this Fountain of life, that we may escape the snares of death.
Commentary on Proverbs 14:28
(Read Proverbs 14:28)
Let all that wish well to the kingdom of Christ, do what they can, that many may be added to his church.
Commentary on Proverbs 14:29
(Read Proverbs 14:29)
A mild, patient man is one that learns of Christ, who is Wisdom itself. Unbridled passion is folly made known.
Commentary on Proverbs 14:30
(Read Proverbs 14:30)
An upright, contented, and benevolent mind, tends to health.
Commentary on Proverbs 14:31
(Read Proverbs 14:31)
To oppress the poor is to reproach our Creator.
Commentary on Proverbs 14:32
(Read Proverbs 14:32)
The wicked man has his soul forced from him; he dies in his sins, under the guilt and power of them. But godly men, though they have pain and some dread of death, have the blessed hope, which God, who cannot lie, has given them.
Commentary on Proverbs 14:33
(Read Proverbs 14:33)
Wisdom possesses the heart, and thus regulates the affections and tempers.
Commentary on Proverbs 14:34
(Read Proverbs 14:34)
Piety and holiness always promote industry, sobriety, and honesty.
Commentary on Proverbs 14:35
(Read Proverbs 14:35)
The great King who reigns over heaven and earth, will reward faithful servants who honour his gospel by the proper discharge of the duties of their stations: he despises not the services of the lowest.