6 The hater of authority, searching for wisdom, does not get it; but knowledge comes readily to the open-minded man.
But if any man among you is without wisdom, let him make his request to God, who gives freely to all without an unkind word, and it will be given to him.
And he said to them in answer, To you is given the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. Because whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have more; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
At that time Jesus made answer and said, I give praise to you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have kept these things secret from the wise and the men of learning, and have made them clear to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was pleasing in your eyes. All things have been given to me by my Father; and no one has knowledge of the Son, but the Father; and no one has knowledge of the Father, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will make it clear.
Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
They are all true to him whose mind is awake, and straightforward to those who get knowledge.
Having first of all the knowledge that in the last days there will be men who, ruled by their evil desires, will make sport of holy things, Saying, Where is the hope of his coming? From the death of the fathers till now everything has gone on as it was from the making of the world. But in taking this view they put out of their minds the memory that in the old days there was a heaven, and an earth lifted out of the water and circled by water, by the word of God;
If anyone seems to himself to have knowledge, so far he has not the right sort of knowledge about anything;
Let no man have a false idea. If any man seems to himself to be wise among you, let him become foolish, so that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolish before God. As it is said in the holy Writings, He who takes the wise in their secret designs:
Because, having the knowledge of God, they did not give glory to God as God, and did not give praise, but their minds were full of foolish things, and their hearts, being without sense, were made dark. Seeming to be wise, they were in fact foolish, And by them the glory of the eternal God was changed and made into the image of man who is not eternal, and of birds and beasts and things which go on the earth. For this reason God gave them up to the evil desires of their hearts, working shame in their bodies with one another: Because by them the true word of God was changed into that which is false, and they gave worship and honour to the thing which is made, and not to him who made it, to whom be blessing for ever. So be it. For this reason God gave them up to evil passions, and their women were changing the natural use into one which is unnatural: And in the same way the men gave up the natural use of the woman and were burning in their desire for one another, men doing shame with men, and getting in their bodies the right reward of their evil-doing. And because they had not the mind to keep God in their knowledge, God gave them up to an evil mind, to do those things which are not right;
The wise men are shamed, they are overcome with fear and taken: see, they have given up the word of the Lord; and what use is their wisdom to them?
Then say to them, Put your faith in the teaching and the witness. ... If they do not say such things. ... For him there is no dawn. ...
A foolish man has no pleasure in good sense, but only to let what is in his heart come to light.
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.