3 In the mouth of the foolish man is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will keep them safe.
The words of sinners are destruction for the upright; but the mouth of upright men is their salvation.
He who is ever desiring profit is a cause of fighting; but he who puts his faith in the Lord will be made fat.
And after these things I saw, and the house of the Tent of witness in heaven was open: And the seven angels who had the seven punishments came out from the house of God, clothed with linen, clean and bright and with bands of gold about their breasts.
And they overcame him through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their witness; and loving not their lives they freely gave themselves up to death.
Because you have kept my word in quiet strength, I will keep you from the hour of testing which is coming on all the world, to put to the test those who are on earth.
Even so the tongue is a small part of the body, but it takes credit for great things. How much wood may be lighted by a very little fire! And the tongue is a fire; it is the power of evil placed in our bodies, making all the body unclean, putting the wheel of life on fire, and getting its fire from hell.
Because, if you say with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and have faith in your heart that God has made him come back from the dead, you will have salvation: For with the heart man has faith to get righteousness, and with the mouth he says that Jesus is Lord to get salvation.
Say no more words of pride; let not uncontrolled sayings come out of your mouths: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, by him acts are judged.
By planting the seed of evil a man will get in the grain of sorrow, and the rod of his wrath will be broken.
A foolish man's lips are a cause of fighting, and his mouth makes him open to blows.
My soul is among lions; I am stretched out among those who are on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and whose tongue is a sharp sword.
<To the chief music-maker. Maschil. Of David. When Doeg the Edomite came to Saul saying, David has come to the house of Ahimelech.> Why do you take pride in wrongdoing, lifting yourself up against the upright man all the day? Purposing destruction, using deceit; your tongue is like a sharp blade.
Let the false lips be shut, which say evil against the upright, looking down on him in their pride.
The smooth lips and the tongue of pride will be cut off by the Lord.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 14
Commentary on Proverbs 14 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 14
Pr 14:1-35.
1. Every wise, &c.—literally, "The wisdoms" (compare Pr 9:1) "of women," plural, a distributive form of speech.
buildeth … house—increases wealth, which the foolish, by mismanagement, lessen.
2. uprightness—is the fruit of fearing God, as falsehood and ill-nature (Pr 2:15; 3:32) of despising Him and His law.
3. rod of pride—that is, the punishment of pride, which they evince by their words. The words of the wise procure good to them.
4. crib is clean—empty; so "cleanness of teeth" denotes want of food (compare Am 4:6). Men get the proper fruit of their doings (Ga 6:7).
5. A faithful witness, &c.—one tested to be such.
utter lies—or, "breathe out lies"—that is, habitually lies (Pr 6:19; compare Ac 9:1). Or the sense is, that habitual truthfulness, or lying, will be evinced in witness-bearing.
6. An humble, teachable spirit succeeds in seeking (Pr 8:9; Joh 7:17; Jas 1:5, 6).
7. Avoid the society of those who cannot teach you.
8. Appearances deceive the thoughtless, but the prudent discriminate.
9. Fools make a mock at sin—or, "Sin deludes fools."
righteous … favour—that is, of God, instead of the punishment of sin.
10. Each one best knows his own sorrows or joys.
11. (Compare Pr 12:7). The contrast of the whole is enhanced by that of house and tabernacle, a permanent and a temporary dwelling.
12. end thereof—or, "reward," what results (compare Pr 5:4).
ways of death—leading to it.
13. The preceding sentiment illustrated by the disappointments of a wicked or untimely joy.
14. filled … ways—receive retribution (Pr 1:31).
a good man … himself—literally, "is away from such," will not associate with him.
15. The simple … word—He is credulous, not from love, but heedlessness (Pr 13:16).
16. (Compare Pr 3:7; 28:14).
rageth—acts proudly and conceitedly.
17. He … angry—literally, "short of anger" (compare Pr 14:29, opposite idea).
man … hated—that is, the deliberate evildoer is more hated than the rash.
18. inherit—as a portion (compare Pr 3:35).
are crowned—literally, "are surrounded with it," abound in it.
19. Describes the humbling of the wicked by the punishment their sins incur.
20. This sad but true picture of human nature is not given approvingly, but only as a fact.
21. For such contempt of the poor is contrasted as sinful with the virtuous compassion of the good.
22. As usual, the interrogative negative strengthens the affirmative.
mercy and truth—that is, God's (Ps 57:3; 61:7).
23. labour—painful diligence.
talk … penury—idle and vain promises and plans.
24. (Compare Pr 3:16).
foolishness … folly—Folly remains, or produces folly; it has no benefit.
25. Life often depends on truth-telling.
a deceitful … lies—He that breathes out lies is deceit, not to be trusted (Pr 14:5).
26. The blessings of piety descend to children (Pr 13:22; 20:7; Ex 20:6).
27. (Compare Pr 13:14).
fear of the Lord—or, "law of the wise," is wisdom (Ps 111:10).
28. The teaching of a true political economy.
29. slow … understanding—(Compare Pr 14:17).
hasty—(Compare Pr 14:17).
exalteth folly—makes it conspicuous, as if delighting to honor it.
30. A sound heart—both literally and figuratively, a source of health; in the latter sense, opposed to the known effect of evil passions on health.
31. reproacheth his Maker—who is the God of such, as well as of the rich (Pr 22:2; Job 31:15; and specially 1Sa 2:8; Ps 113:7).
32. driven—thrust out violently (compare Ps 35:5, 6).
hath hope—trusteth (Pr 10:2; 11:4; Ps 2:12), implying assurance of help.
33. resteth—preserved in quietness for use, while fools blazon their folly (Pr 12:23; 13:16).
34. Righteousness—just principles and actions.
exalteth—raises to honor.
is a reproach—brings on them the ill-will of others (compare Pr 13:6).
35. wise—discreet or prudent.
causeth shame—(Pr 10:5; 12:4) acts basely.