16 The wise man, fearing, keeps himself from evil; but the foolish man goes on in his pride, with no thought of danger.
The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.
Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil:
These words came to the ears of the Pharisees who were with him and they said to him, Are we, then, blind?
For Herod himself had sent men out to take John and put him in prison, because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had taken for himself. For John said to Herod, It is wrong for you to have your brother's wife. And Herodias was bitter against him, desiring to put him to death; but she was not able;
The first words of his mouth are foolish, and the end of his talk is evil crime.
Happy is the man in whom is the fear of the Lord at all times; but he whose heart is hard will come into trouble.
The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul.
The simple man goes after her, like an ox going to its death, like a roe pulled by a cord;
My flesh is moved for fear of you; I give honour to your decisions.
If my hand had been lifted up against him who had done no wrong, when I saw that I was supported by the judges; May my arm be pulled from my body, and be broken from its base. For the fear of God kept me back, and because of his power I might not do such things.
And he said to man, Truly the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to keep from evil is the way to knowledge.
But earlier rulers who were before me made the people responsible for their upkeep, and took from them bread and wine at the rate of forty shekels of silver; and even their servants were lords over the people: but I did not do so, because of the fear of God.
And he said, If they have come out for peace, take them living, and if they have come out for war, take them living.
Then Ben-hadad sent to him, saying, May the gods' punishment be on me if there is enough of the dust of Samaria for all the people at my feet to take some in their hands. And the king of Israel said in answer, Say to him, The time for loud talk is not when a man is putting on his arms, but when he is taking them off.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 14
Commentary on Proverbs 14 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 14
Pro 14:1
Note,
Pro 14:2
Here are,
Pro 14:3
See here,
Pro 14:4
Note,
Pro 14:5
In the administration of justice much depends upon the witnesses, and therefore it is necessary to the common good that witnesses be principled as they ought to be; for,
Pro 14:6
Note,
Pro 14:7
See here,
Pro 14:8
See here,
Pro 14:9
See here,
Pro 14:10
This agrees with 1 Co. 2:11, What man knows the things of a man, and the changes of his temper, save the spirit of a man?
Pro 14:11
Note,
Pro 14:12
We have here an account of the way and end of a great many self-deluded souls.
Pro 14:13
This shows the vanity of carnal mirth, and proves what Solomon said of laughter, that it is mad; for,
Pro 14:14
Note,
Pro 14:15
Note,
Pro 14:16
Note,
Pro 14:17
Note,
Pro 14:18
Note,
Pro 14:19
That is,
Pro 14:20
This shows, not what should be, but what is the common way of the world-to be shy of the poor and fond of the rich.
Pro 14:21
See here how men's character and condition are measured and judged of by their conduct towards their poor neighbours.
Pro 14:22
See here,
Pro 14:23
Note,
Pro 14:24
Observe,
Pro 14:25
See here,
Pro 14:26-27
In these two verses we are invited and encouraged to live in the fear of God by the advantages which attend a religious life. The fear of the Lord is here put for all gracious principles, producing gracious practices.
Pro 14:28
Here are two maxims in politics, which carry their own evidence with them:-
Pro 14:29
Note,
Pro 14:30
The foregoing verse showed how much our reputation, this how much our health, depends on the good government of our passions and the preserving of the temper of the mind.
Pro 14:31
God is here pleased to interest himself more than one would imagine in the treatment given to the poor.
Pro 14:32
Here is,
Pro 14:33
Observe,
Pro 14:34
Note,
Pro 14:35
This shows that in a well-ordered court and government smiles and favours are dispensed among those that are employed in public trusts according to their merits; Solomon lets them know he will go by that rule,