Proverbs · chapter 14 of 31
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Proverbs 14 contrasts the wise woman who builds her house with the foolish one who tears it down, and warns that there is a way that seems right but ends in death. It praises prudence, patience and a tranquil heart, calls blessed the one who is generous to the poor, and affirms that righteousness exalts a nation.
Proverbs 14 continues the collection of Solomon's sayings and is very practical: it speaks of the home, prudence, anger, the poor and the nation. Many verses rest on a single idea: what seems right is not always right, and wisdom is measured by its fruits. It is a useful chapter for study by topic.
The chapter opens with a picture of the home: the wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down (v. 1). Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is devious in his ways despises him (v. 2). Where there are no oxen the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox (v. 4). A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies (v. 5).
A series on prudence and the way follows. The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving (v. 8). The heart knows its own bitterness (v. 10). There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death (v. 12). Even in laughter the heart may ache (v. 13). The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps (v. 15).
Other sayings deal with character and the poor. Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly (v. 29). A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot (v. 30). Whoever oppresses the poor insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him (v. 31). Whoever despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor (v. 21). In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty (v. 23).
The chapter ends with the fear of the Lord and the nation. In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge (v. 26). The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life (v. 27). Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people (v. 34).
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
The wise woman builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. The proverb shows that wisdom or folly is seen in what is built or destroyed in the home, through everyday decisions and words.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Feeling sure is not enough; we need to examine our ways in the light of God's word, because appearance can deceive.
Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. Mastering anger is a sign of intelligence, because hasty reactions often leave damage that is hard to repair.
Whoever oppresses the poor insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. How we treat the weakest reflects what we think of God, who made everyone.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: The wise one builds her house; the foolish one tears it down with her own hands. — Proverbs 14:1
Answer: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. — Proverbs 14:12
Answer: The simple believes everything; the prudent gives thought to his steps. — Proverbs 14:15
Answer: Great understanding. — Proverbs 14:29
Answer: The first insults his Maker; the second honors him. — Proverbs 14:31
Answer: Righteousness; sin is a reproach to any people. — Proverbs 14:34
Proverbs 14 invites us to look at the home and the heart. A family is built with patience, careful words and wise decisions, and it is torn down by carelessness and bad reactions. In a group you can talk about which habits build our home and which weaken it.
The proverb of the way that seems right is a warning against self-reliance: it helps to examine what we do in the light of the Bible and with the counsel of other believers. It also calls us to master our anger and to show compassion to the needy, since how we treat the poor shows what we believe about God. Each of us can think of one concrete act of generosity or patience for this week.
Proverbs 14 shows that wisdom builds the home, masters the temper and has compassion on the poor. In chapter 15 the collection continues with the power of a gentle answer, the eyes of the Lord in every place and the joy of a cheerful heart.
It means our own impression of being right is not a reliable guide. A conduct can look reasonable, popular or comfortable and still lead away from God. That is why the book invites us to examine our ways with the wisdom that comes from the Lord and with the counsel of others.
No. It realistically describes how people tend to treat the poor and the rich, but other verses in the same chapter, such as 21 and 31, condemn that treatment and call blessed the one who is generous to the needy.