16 The wise is fearing and turning from evil, And a fool is transgressing and is confident.
17 Whoso is short of temper doth folly, And a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 The simple have inherited folly, And the prudent are crowned 'with' knowledge.
19 The evil have bowed down before the good, And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 Even of his neighbour is the poor hated, And those loving the rich 'are' many.
21 Whoso is despising his neighbour sinneth, Whoso is favouring the humble, O his happiness.
22 Do not they err who are devising evil? And kindness and truth 'are' to those devising good,
23 In all labour there is advantage, And a thing of the lips 'is' only to want.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, The folly of fools 'is' folly.
25 A true witness is delivering souls, And a deceitful one breatheth out lies.
26 In the fear of Jehovah 'is' strong confidence, And to His sons there is a refuge. 27 The fear of Jehovah 'is' a fountain of life, To turn aside from snares of death.
28 In the multitude of a people 'is' the honour of a king, And in lack of people the ruin of a prince.
29 Whoso is slow to anger 'is' of great understanding, And whoso is short in temper is exalting folly.
30 A healed heart 'is' life to the flesh, And rottenness to the bones 'is' envy.
31 An oppressor of the poor reproacheth his Maker, And whoso is honouring Him Is favouring the needy.
32 In his wickedness is the wicked driven away, And trustful in his death 'is' the righteous.
33 In the heart of the intelligent wisdom doth rest. And in the midst of fools it is known.
34 Righteousness exalteth a nation, And the goodliness of peoples 'is' a sin-offering.
35 The favour of a king 'is' to a wise servant, And an object of his wrath is one causing shame!
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.