[1] Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
Buildeth — Maintains and improves her family and estate.
Her hands — By her idleness or sin.
[3] In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
A rod — His insolent speeches as they are like a rod, offensive to others, so, they make a rod for their own backs.
[4] Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
The crib — The stable is empty of food for cattle, and much more for man. In the same sense cleanness of teeth is put for famine, Amos 4:6.
The strength — By their labours, or by diligence in husbandry, which then was principally managed by oxen.
[6] A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
Findeth it not — Because he doth not seek it aright.
That understandeth — That is honest and pious.
[8] The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
His way — Consists not in vain speculations, but in a diligent study of his duty, and of the way to eternal happiness.
The folly — The wit of ungodly men, which is really their folly, is employed only in finding out ways of deceiving.
[9] Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
Favour — They find favour both with God and men.
[10] The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
Bitterness — The inward griefs and joys of mens hearts, are not known to any but a man's self.
[12] There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Right — There are some evil courses which men may think to be lawful and good.
The end — The event shews that they were sinful and destructive.
[13] Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
In laughter — The outward signs of joy are often mixed with real sorrow.
[14] The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
In heart — He who departs from God inwardly.
Filled — With the fruit of his ways, the punishment of his sins.
Satisfied — From the pious temper of his own heart, which cleaves to the Lord, he shall receive unspeakable comfort.
[15] The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
The simple — A foolish man.
Looketh — He orders his dealings in the world with due circumspection, not considering so much what other men say as what he ought to do.
[16] A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
Feareth — Trembles at God's judgments when they are either inflicted or threatened.
Rageth — Frets against God; or is enraged against his messengers.
Confident — Secure and insensible of his danger.
[17] He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
Foolishly — His passion hurries him into foolish speeches and actions.
Wicked devices — One who suppresses his passion, but meditates revenge.
Hated — Both by God and men.
[18] The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
Inherit — They possess it as their inheritance, holding it fast, and glorying in it.
Knowledge — The saving knowledge of God and of their own duty.
[19] The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
The evil — Good men shall have the pre-eminency over the wicked.
[20] The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
Hated — Despised and abandoned.
[21] He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Despiseth — That does not pity and relieve the poor.
[23] In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
The talk — Idle talking will bring a man to poverty.
[24] The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
Riches — They are a singular advantage and ornament to them.
But — As for rich fools, their folly is not cured, but made worse and more manifest by their riches.
[25] A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
Souls — Such as are innocent, from false accusations.
[27] The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
To depart — To preserve men from destructive courses.
[29] He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Exalteth — Heb. lifteth up, like a banner, makes it known and visible to all men.
[30] A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
A sound heart — Free from envy and inordinate passions.
Is life — Procures and maintains the health and vigour of the body.
[31] He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
His maker — Whose image the poor man bears, by whose providence he is made poor, and who hath declared himself to be their protector and avenger.
[32] The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
Driven away — In his death, from God's favour and presence.
Death — In his greatest dangers and distresses, yea even in death itself.
[33] Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
Resteth — Is laid up and hid there.
In the midst — In the heart.
Made known — They will publish in all times and companies.
[35] The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
Shame — Both to himself, by his foolish management of the king's affairs, and to the king who made so foolish a choice of a servant.
Proverbs 14 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 1
[1] Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
Buildeth — Maintains and improves her family and estate.
Her hands — By her idleness or sin.
Verse 3
[3] In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
A rod — His insolent speeches as they are like a rod, offensive to others, so, they make a rod for their own backs.
Verse 4
[4] Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
The crib — The stable is empty of food for cattle, and much more for man. In the same sense cleanness of teeth is put for famine, Amos 4:6.
The strength — By their labours, or by diligence in husbandry, which then was principally managed by oxen.
Verse 6
[6] A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
Findeth it not — Because he doth not seek it aright.
That understandeth — That is honest and pious.
Verse 8
[8] The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
His way — Consists not in vain speculations, but in a diligent study of his duty, and of the way to eternal happiness.
The folly — The wit of ungodly men, which is really their folly, is employed only in finding out ways of deceiving.
Verse 9
[9] Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
Favour — They find favour both with God and men.
Verse 10
[10] The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
Bitterness — The inward griefs and joys of mens hearts, are not known to any but a man's self.
Verse 12
[12] There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Right — There are some evil courses which men may think to be lawful and good.
The end — The event shews that they were sinful and destructive.
Verse 13
[13] Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
In laughter — The outward signs of joy are often mixed with real sorrow.
Verse 14
[14] The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
In heart — He who departs from God inwardly.
Filled — With the fruit of his ways, the punishment of his sins.
Satisfied — From the pious temper of his own heart, which cleaves to the Lord, he shall receive unspeakable comfort.
Verse 15
[15] The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
The simple — A foolish man.
Looketh — He orders his dealings in the world with due circumspection, not considering so much what other men say as what he ought to do.
Verse 16
[16] A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
Feareth — Trembles at God's judgments when they are either inflicted or threatened.
Rageth — Frets against God; or is enraged against his messengers.
Confident — Secure and insensible of his danger.
Verse 17
[17] He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
Foolishly — His passion hurries him into foolish speeches and actions.
Wicked devices — One who suppresses his passion, but meditates revenge.
Hated — Both by God and men.
Verse 18
[18] The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
Inherit — They possess it as their inheritance, holding it fast, and glorying in it.
Knowledge — The saving knowledge of God and of their own duty.
Verse 19
[19] The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
The evil — Good men shall have the pre-eminency over the wicked.
Verse 20
[20] The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
Hated — Despised and abandoned.
Verse 21
[21] He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Despiseth — That does not pity and relieve the poor.
Verse 23
[23] In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
The talk — Idle talking will bring a man to poverty.
Verse 24
[24] The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
Riches — They are a singular advantage and ornament to them.
But — As for rich fools, their folly is not cured, but made worse and more manifest by their riches.
Verse 25
[25] A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
Souls — Such as are innocent, from false accusations.
Verse 27
[27] The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
To depart — To preserve men from destructive courses.
Verse 29
[29] He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Exalteth — Heb. lifteth up, like a banner, makes it known and visible to all men.
Verse 30
[30] A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
A sound heart — Free from envy and inordinate passions.
Is life — Procures and maintains the health and vigour of the body.
Verse 31
[31] He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
His maker — Whose image the poor man bears, by whose providence he is made poor, and who hath declared himself to be their protector and avenger.
Verse 32
[32] The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
Driven away — In his death, from God's favour and presence.
Death — In his greatest dangers and distresses, yea even in death itself.
Verse 33
[33] Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
Resteth — Is laid up and hid there.
In the midst — In the heart.
Made known — They will publish in all times and companies.
Verse 35
[35] The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
Shame — Both to himself, by his foolish management of the king's affairs, and to the king who made so foolish a choice of a servant.