Wisdom · Chapter 14 of 31

Proverbs 14

Solomon's sayings turn to wisdom and folly in building or wrecking a home, the deceptiveness of appearances, the inner life of the heart, and mercy to the poor. A way can seem right to a man yet end in death. The heart knows its own bitterness. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life and strong confidence, and righteousness, not mere strength, exalts a nation.

What happens in Proverbs 14

The chapter opens with the wise woman who builds her house and the foolish one who plucks it down. It probes appearances and inner realities: there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is death; even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and the end of that mirth is heaviness; the heart knows its own bitterness. Prudence is contrasted with folly: the simple believe every word, but the prudent look well to their going.

Anger is weighed, he who is slow to wrath has great understanding. Mercy recurs pointedly: whoever oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who honors him has mercy on the poor. The fear of the LORD is named a strong confidence and a fountain of life. The chapter widens to nations, declaring that righteousness exalts a nation while sin is a reproach to any people, and ends with the king's favor toward a wise servant.

Proverbs 14 in context

Chapter 14 continues the Solomonic collection of self-contained sayings. Several proverbs here move beyond the individual to community and nation, reflecting wisdom's conviction that private morality has public weight. Others probe the hidden interior, laughter masking sorrow, a heart that alone knows its bitterness, showing that this wisdom tradition was not naive about the gap between appearance and reality.

Mercy to the poor is tied directly to reverence for the Creator who made them.

Main themes of Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14 (KJV)

1Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. 2He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. 3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. 4Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. 5A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. 6A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. 7Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge. 8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit. 9Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour. 10The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. 11The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish. 12There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. 13Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness. 14The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. 15The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. 16A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident. 17He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated. 18The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. 20The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends. 21He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. 22Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good. 23In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. 24The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly. 25A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies. 26In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. 27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. 28In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince. 29He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. 30A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. 31He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor. 32The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death. 33Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known. 34Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. 35The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

Verses to carry from Proverbs 14

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”Proverbs 14:12

“He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.”Proverbs 14:31

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”Proverbs 14:34

Reflection

Be honest about the way that merely seems right to you; sincerity can still be mistaken. And look again at the poor around you, for how you treat them is how you treat their Maker. Ask Christ, the true way, to correct your path and enlarge your mercy.

A prayer from Proverbs 14