Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14:1

1. Every wise woman ’ buildeth her house : but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

The prosperity and comfort of every man’s family depends on the choice of the woman he ties at the head of it : a wise woman, by her prudence, œconomy, and diligent inspection into her affairs, makes a little go far, lives in credit, and lays up for her children : but a foolish woman, extravagant, careless, pleasure loving, ever abroad ; visiting, gaming, at public places, hath neither time, inclination, or understanding to look into her family affairs ; and as the consequence, waft and want necessarily entire, her husband’s credit, perhaps his heart, is broken under the remediless evil, and his family ruined.

2. He that walketh in his uprightness, feareth the LORD : but he that is perverse in his ways, despiseth him.

Joh. xii. 4.

Proverbs 14:2

It is a sure way of judging to mark men’s ways, for by their fruits ye shall know them. It is evident, where the conduct is under the guidance of the divine word, there God’s authority is revered, and his fear implanted in the heart ; and in evident, that where the way is perverse before God, and his indulged in opposition to his commands and threatenings, there all respect for his government is call off, and atheism practical, if not avowed, the temper.

3. In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride : but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

Proverbs 14:3

A proud, imperious, arrogant tongue is the evidence of a proud heart ; and this rod, with which they lie often fools; others, will shortly break their own heads ; provoked by their insistence, some will be found who will take delight to chastise and mortify them ; at least in the end, the rod of pride will be broken : but the lips of the wise shall preserve them from giving provocation to others, or being hurt by their perverse.

4. Where no oxen are, the crib is clean : but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Proverbs 14:4

They who would have plenty, must be content with the dirt which labour makes : a clean crib may be nicer, but the ox with all his litter, is far more eligible. In a spiritual sense, the want of ministers in the gospel, necessarily brings a famine of the word, and souls perish for lack of knowledge : but where they labour in the word and doctrine, there souls are fed and nourished up in the truth, and increase with the increase of God.

5. A faithful witness will not lie : but a false witness will utter lies.

Proverbs 14:5

A faithful man will neither in common discourse, or a court of justice, bear witness to an untruth : he makes conscience of every word ; whilst the false and faithless, destitute of the fear of God, stick at nothing to carry their point, and without hesitation or shame, lie on.

6. A former seeketh willsem, but fendeth it not : but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

Proverbs 14:7

The should, nothing being so opposite therein, as that proud wisdom that exalteth itself against God. But where there is an understanding enlightened by the divine grace, and guided by the divine word, as a lamp to the feet, there knowledge is only, the mysteries unintelligible to the reason of the proud are open and obvious; and the doctrines which this world’s wife men deem absurd and irrational, appear the wisdom of God, perfectly confident, and admirably disposed to exalt his glory, to engage our dependence, and secure our obedience.

7. Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceiveth not in him the lips of knowledge.

It is wise to get out of their company, from whom we can learn no good; we may by business, and the duties of our station, indeed be sometimes called to be with those, whose discourse is disagreeable: but when it becomes indecent, profane, or blasphemous, we should testify our abhorrence, by an immediate and abrupt departure.

8. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

Proverbs 14:8

Our wisdom must appear by the management of our affairs; either in the way of our calling, shewing ourselves matters of our business; or in the way of our duty, by understanding the right path, and pursuing it: but the folly of fools is deceit, they conceit they are wise and knowing; and wrong as all their ways are, deceive themselves to their ruin.

9. Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

Proverbs 14:9

Insincable of the evil, malignity, and danger of it, fools make a mock at sin, hardening themselves in iniquity, pleased with others wickedness, sporting at the mischief occasioned by it, and turning off all the rebukes of the wife with a job, or a laugh; but among the righteous there is favour, they dare not make light of sin, but seek God’s favour, and find it; and indeed of making a job at mischief, desire to shew all kindness and regard, both to men’s bodies and souls.

10. The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

Proverbs 14:10

There is a bitterness none know but they who feel it: in worldly troubles, there are aggravations unknown to any but the sufferer; and in the distresses of a troubled conscience, an anguish which is heavier than our groaning. On the other hand, when God lifts up the light of his countenance, and heals the broken hearted with his consolations, no joys are to compare with it: they are such, as a stranger to divine light and love hath never tailed; they are unfeasible, and full of glory.

11. The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

Proverbs 14:11

From as the wicked thinks he builds, both for time and eternity, his foundation is on the sand, and ruin will ensue. His earthly greatness shall be brought low, and his hopes of heaven quickly be exchanged for despair in hell: but the tabernacle of the upright, though it appeared weak and despicable, shall flourish, established here under the divine blessing, and growing into an houle eternal in the heavens.

12. There is a way which sermeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 14:12

Such is the way of the worldling, who heapeth up riches; the way of the lovers of pleasure, who live in a round of indulgence; and especially of the self-righteous and rigid observers of outward forms, who affect great zeal for the rituals of religion, but are strangers to the power of it: but all these paths tend alike to perdition, and the more sanguine their hopes of happiness, the more terrible will be their disappointment in eternal misery.

13. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

Proverbs 14:13

The countenance that smiles, often covers a heart that within with vexation, envy, and anguish. All are not happy that appear so; and particularly they who affect to laugh off their convictions, and are ashamed to acknowledge what they feel, will pay dear for their resistance against the Holy Ghost, either in bitter penitential tears, or what is worse, the weepings and wailings of eternal despair.

14. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

Proverbs 14:14

Backsliding arises from an evil heart of unbelief; and though it affurs not in apostasy, will be the cause of bitterness anguish, when the sense of hate unfaithfulness shall fill the soul with sharper remorse than was even felt in the first pangs of the awakened conscience. Whilst a good man, who finds false, not moved away from the hope of the gospel, shall be satisfied from himself, comforted in conscious simplicity, and in the expectation of his eternal happiness, the foretakes of which he feels begun.

15. The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

Proverbs 14:15

The credulous are easily imposed upon, but in this lying world, suspicion is needful. It is prudent to try before we trust, and not be hastily in crediting men’s professions, or reports. We must look well to our way, if we would not err from the truth, for deceivers abound.

16. A wise man feareth, and departereth from evil; but the fool rageth and is confident.

Proverbs 14:16

A wise man feareth to offend God, and departereth from evil, is upon his guard against temptation, and keeps at a distance from the appearance of evil; it is dangerous coming too near the fire: but the fool rages against rebukes, and confident of his safety, presumptuously persists in his rebellion, and rushes on his ruin.

17. He that is soon angry deaieth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

Proverbs 14:17

3. A wicked messenger falleth into mischief : but a faithful ambassador is health.

Unfaithfulness in discharging his truth, or delivering his message, will bring the wicked servant to shame and punishment; and above all others, an unfaithful messenger of God’s word, will fall into the deepest condemnation : but a faithful ambassador is health, profitable to those who employ him, useful to others, and a credit to his character; and this is eminently true of those who are faithful ambassadors for Christ.

They who on every provocation fly out, and are easily heated with contradiction, shew their folly, and will usually be the more teased and laughed at in the world: but whilst the warm expose themselves to contempt, the wicked and malicious are the objects of hatred.

18. The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Proverbs 14:18

Folly is the natural inheritance of fallen man, and he delights in it: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge, they esteem it their nobility ornament, and labour after higher attainments; or they crown knowledge, are a credit to their profession, and an honour to the religion they profess.

19. The evil bow before the good: and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

Proverbs 14:19

It is thus sometimes the case here below; but this will most eminently be fulfilled in the future day, when the abhorrence of the wicked, and the exaltation of the righteous shall be compleat.

20. The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.

Proverbs 14:20

This speaks not what ought to be, but what is. No shame in the world like poverty; be but reduced to want, and your nearness neighbour often will grow strange; whilst every one bows at the rich man’s feet, and professes friendship, where he hopes for advantage. Now, (1.) A true friend is a scarce commodity in this world. (2.) Christ never forsakes his chosen, he is a friend born for adversity.

21. He that despiseth his neighbour, sinmeth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Proverbs 14:21

It is an affliction to be poor, a greater to be despised for it; yet this is the world’s way, and a very sinful one it is. We should learn a different lesson; to be merciful and kind to the distressed, condescending, ready to every good office, which by our purse, our counsel, or countenance, we can shew them: for happy is he, nothing is more truly its own reward, than such a gracious spirit: the immediate satisfaction thence resulting, is great, and the eternal blessedness which is in store for such, far greater.

22. Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

Proverbs 14:22

Many think their craft shall issue to their comfort, but they greatly err; the evil they devise shall fall upon themselves: but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good, who make it their study and delight to be extensively useful, and lay themselves out to have men’s bodies and souls: the mercies they sow, they shall reap; and a reward, not of debt indeed, but of grace, which the truth of God is engaged for, shall be given them.

23. In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tenderly only to penury.

Proverbs 14:23

They who would thrive, must take pains, and diligent industry scarce ever fails of being crowned with abundance; whilst great talkers are usually little doors, and they who boast most over their cups how much they are worth, and what they can get, seldom fail of coming to poverty. Thus it is also with the soul; the thriving christian is silent and industrious, swift to hear, slow to speak; whilst talkative disputers, are all tongue and no heart, more sounding brats and tinkling cymbals.

24. The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

Proverbs 14:24

Riches, when under the management of a wise head, and gracious heart, become ornamental as a crown, and give us a longer field to be serviceable to the interests of religion and mankind; but the foolishness of fools is folly, no State, no condition alters them: nay, the more of this world’s wealth they have, they stand only on a higher pedestal, to have their folly and wickedness more notorious.

Ver. 5.

25. ‘A true witness delivers fouls, but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

Proverbs 14:25

A true witness delivers fouls, boldly bearing testimony, when by false accusations, his neighbour’s life or property was in danger: but a deceitful witness, hardened in villainy, freaketh lies; and when such a one rifeeth up, no man’s life is safe. Thus it is with true ministers and falls; the one preach the free grace of God in Jesus Christ, bear witness to the truth of the gospel-promises, to save perishing sinners by faith only: the others set up the damnable doctrine of human works and righteousness, to justify sinners before God, to the ruin of immortal souls, who believe their lies.

22. 25. • There is a way that seemeth right to a man: but the end thereof are the ways of death. When the delusion is in its nature so dangerous, and wishal so common, repeated warnings are the more needful, chap. xiv. 12. The word of God is the only touchstone, and diligent self-examination to be daily made: the most take up with the form of godliness, sit down content with their religion, as they call it, though strange is in the grace of God in truth, having never experienced a change of heart, or been born again of the spirit. Reader, is the case thine own, consider well the warning: thou may have a good opinion of thyself, and the world admine thee as the hell sort of person in it, and yet thou mayst be in the path of death and hell. Heb. Bourch unin him. 26. He that laboureth, laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.

Proverbs 14:26

Nature is craving; we must work, that we may eat; but the wants of our souls are more urgent than those of our bodies, and need be more attended to; our misery and folly is, that acutely as we feel the one, we are too insensible to the other, and whilst we labour enough, perhaps too much, for the meat which peristheth, we use no pains to obtain that which endureth unto life eternal. Heb. A man of Belliol.