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A Study of Proverbs 14
July 08, 2007
One of our members requested a study of Proverbs. The fourteenth chapter repeats some points already made and introduces new ones. A wise woman strengthens, rather than destroys, her household. God despises false witness. Those who act in anger, act foolishly. The righteous help the poor and the needy.
Bernie Parsons
A Study of Proverbs Chapter 14
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to the Load church of Christ 07-08-2007
Proverbs 14:1: "Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands."
Proverbs 12:4: "A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones."
We live in a time when family is not held in high regard, and marriages are formed and broken casually. God intends that families stay and work together for the success of the family. A good woman establishes her family and home rather than destroying it.
Proverbs 14:2: "He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him."
The righteous fear God, while the unrigtheous do not--else they would be righteous.
Proverbs 14:3: "In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them."
God hates pride. Those who are proud are foolish; the wise learn humility.
Matthew 23:12: "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."
Proverbs 14:4: "Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox."
Oxen were the heavy lifters in those times. Without the work being done, the storage crib was empty. When the work was accomplished, the storage crib was full.
Proverbs 14:5: "A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies."
Deuteronomy 19:16: "If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;
17: Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
18: And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
19: Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
20: And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.
21: And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot."
False witness is a great evil.
Proverbs 14:6: "A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth."
Those who despise wisdom are uniformed and hard to instruct. Those who seek wisdom know how to find it.
Proverbs 14:7: "Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge."
Don't waste time listening to the uniformed and the foolish--they offer nothing of value.
Proverbs 14:8: "The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
9: Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour."
Sinners glory in sin. The righteous abhor sin, and pursue goodness and godliness.
Proverbs 14:10: "The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy."
1 Corinthians 2:11: “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”
A person knows himself best when it comes to internal hurt or personal, deepseated joy. As I often say, happiness comes from within you. So does sorrow.
Proverbs 14:11: "The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish."
As we have studied, the wicked and their name is erased, the righteous are preserved.
Proverbs 14:12: "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
Righteousness comes from God. We cannot direct our own steps. Without direction we are lost. Man, left to his own devices, thinks primarily of himself.
Proverbs 14:13: "Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness."
James 4:8: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9: Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.”
We all need to laugh from time to time, but life is serious work.
Proverbs 14:14: "The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself."
The wicked think too much of themselves, while the righteous are easily satisfied.
Proverbs 14:15: "The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going."
Matthew 10:16: "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."
Simple people are naive, and are easily fooled. The wise watch, listen, and learn.
Proverbs 14:16: "A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident."
Ecclesiastes 12:13: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."
A wise man fears God, and keeps his commandments. A foolish man feels confident in his foolishness.
Proverbs 14:17: "He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated."
James 1:19: "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."
Angry men do not do the work of God. People do not like angry, mean-hearted men.
Proverbs 14:18: "The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge."
Knowledge comes to those who seek it.
Proverbs 14:19: "The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous."
Righteousness prevails in the long run.
Proverbs 14:20: "The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
21: He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he."
Money talks. God has told His people to help the poor, and assist one another.
Leviticus 19:15: "Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour."
Deuteronomy 15:11: "For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land."
Proverbs 14:22: "Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good."
Our time, thought, and effort should be to think of good things to do.
Hebrews 10:24: "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:"
Proverbs 14:23: "In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury."
Talk is cheap. Work produces results.
Proverbs 14:24: "The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly."
The wise prosper while the foolish miss opportunities and do without.
Proverbs 14:25: “A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.”
Honest people tell the truth and can help the innocent escape unwarranted punishment. A liar entangles the innocent in his web of lies and deceit.
Deuteronomy 5:20: “Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.”
Proverbs 14:26: “In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.”
Hebrews 10:19: “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,”
Ephesians 3:11: “According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”
Hebrews 4:16: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
The righteous can boldy approach God to solicit His aid in time of need.
Proverbs 14:27: “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.”
As we have seen before, this is a basic truth. Fear God and be delivered.
Proverbs 14:28: “In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.”
Many people work hard and support the king, while few have litle to offer.
Proverbs 14:29: “He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.”
James 1:19: "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."
Proverbs 14:30: “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.”
James 3:16: “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
Hebrews 13:5: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
We must be confident and content, else envy will destroy us.
Proverbs 14:31: “He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.”
See verses 20 and 21.
Proverbs 14:32: “The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death. “
As before. See verse 11 and previous chapters.
Proverbs 14:33: “Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.”
As before, the wise show forth wisdom and the foolish revela their folly.
Proverbs 14:34: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. “
Righteousness establishes and elevates a nation while sin brings shame and dishonour.
Proverbs 14:35: “The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.”
1 Timothy 2:1: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2: For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
1 Peter 2: 13:”Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14: Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.”
Be good citizens and be favored by those in government. The government punishes those who are lawbreakers and bad citizens.
