Proverbs 14:1-35
In this chapter we’ll learn how a woman should help build up her house rather than tear it down, the importance of the ox in farming production, how a prudent person should not believe everything they hear without checking it out, how talk is cheap compared to diligent labor, and many other such things that steer us towards the paths of righteousness, wisdom, and blessings.
Let’s get into it.
Watch the Proverbs 14 video to learn more or continue reading below:
Wisdom vs. Folly (1-3)
Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
The goal of every wife and mother should be to support their husband’s mission, leadership, and vision for the household. Strive to do whatever you can to build up rather than tear down. To do this, a woman needs to let go of pride and practice godly submission. “But what if I don’t trust my husband’s direction? What if I think my husband is making a wrong decision?” Give your humble advice; if your husband disagrees, then pray for him rather than resist him. You’ve done your job. Let it go and trust. He is the head of your family, but he answers to God. That is the proper chain of command. If he needs redirection or correction, God will take care of that.
Proverbs 14:2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
Someone who refuses to walk according to God’s law despises God. This is a warning to us. If we truly love God, we will strive to walk according to his ways. Did not Jesus say, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
Proverbs 14:3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
Being prideful is a sure way of bringing correction upon yourself. Wisdom and humbleness preserve us from hurt.
Knowledge and Prudence (4-8)
Proverbs 14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
Before the technology explosion, oxen were used for many farm tasks; plowing, treading grain, hauling things, you name it. Having these animals around to help with some of the laborious tasks was a huge time saver and a great asset for productivity. The advice of the proverb is to harness the power of your tools/resources. Now, of course, there are limits to this. While modern technological advancement can be a blessing, it can also be a curse. For example, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and GMOs. All these things are considered powerful means of increasing crop yields, but we now know they poison the food and are destroying the soil.
Another take on this proverb is that by strategically using animals, such as oxen, chickens, or goats, you can greatly enhance the productivity and health of your crops and soil.
Regenerative farming practices by people like Joe Salatin are a prime example of this. He harnesses the power of his cattle and chickens in a way that improves the soil rather than depleting it, and produces some of the highest quality eggs and meat that you can buy anywhere.
Oxen can also be figurative of hard workers or diligent ministers of the Word (1 Timothy 5:8).
Proverbs 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
This is self-explanatory and doesn’t need a lot of explanation. However, it’s interesting to note that Jesus in Revelation 1:5 is called the “faithful witness”, meaning everything he spoke was the truth, about the Father and the way to heaven.
Watch: The Faithful Witness (Revelation 1)
Proverbs 14:6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
Someone who refuses to acknowledge God’s Word, yet seeks to be wise, will never find it because they reject the source from which all wisdom comes. It’s easy for him to understand because he knows the source from which all wisdom comes.
Proverbs 14:7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
Have you ever had someone mock you for following Biblical principles and want to correct them or win the argument? We’ve all been there at some point and found out that it can be a complete waste of time; we cast our pearls before swine. I don’t waste my time with people like this now; it’s their loss and not mine. If they are going to mock the truth of God’s Word, I’m not going to waste my time trying to get them to see it. There are plenty of others out there worthy of our time, and that’s where we need to be, rather than going back and forth with some fool who thinks he knows everything.
Proverbs 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
A prudent man takes the time to reflect, to understand things, to discern things. But fools go on being deceived.
Results of Righteousness vs. Wickedness (9-12)
Proverbs 14:9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
I was at a wedding recently where two homosexuals looked at each other and laughed during the ceremony when the minister made mention of marriage being something special between a man and a woman, as though that was a ridiculous, outdated concept of marriage. You are in a pretty dark place if you think the idea of sin is some sort of joke, and you need to repent before your soul is required of you.
Proverbs 14:10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
Proverbs 14:11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
Ultimately, good wins in the end. The wicked will perish and the righteous will inherit everlasting life.
Watch: Synagogue of Satan: Who are they?
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
We need to be careful of this trap. Sometimes we stubbornly hold on to wrong ways, thinking we are right. Be willing to be wrong. Take the time to reflect and change course if necessary so you don’t end up stubbornly taking a path that leads to death. (Examples:?)
Products of Wisdom and Discernment (13-18)
Proverbs 14:13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
There are some people who are deeply sad but try to hide it with laughter.
Proverbs 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
Jesus says sin starts in the heart (Matthew 5:28), strive to keep your heart pure so you don’t suffer.
Proverbs 14:15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
Too many people believe everything someone tells them without checking it out, but the prudent person makes it a habit to verify if what they’ve been told is true. We see this on a national level. Think of all the people who believe hook, line, and sinker what the BIG media outlets tell them day after day without any sort of critical thinking. They are being misled to follow/support the agenda of wickedness, and they really have no idea that’s what’s happening to them.
Also, consider all the people who attend church, hear their pastor’s teachings, and never check if his words align with the Word of God. So important. Every Pastor should teach their congregations how to study independently, guide them in selecting appropriate study materials and resources, and model a verse-by-verse study method that they can follow.
Christians need to learn how to be more dependent on the Word of God and less dependent on their Pastors. If one is too dependent on their Pastor or Church system, they are putting themselves in great danger of being deceived.
For Jesus said: “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many…For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:5, 24).
Proverbs 14:16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
Fools are confident in their unbelief. We’ve all seen them. Boy, is there a day coming for them. Be wise, fear God, and turn away from evil.
Proverbs 14:17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
This means someone who is quick to anger ends up doing many things wrong, things they regret. We should all strive to be slow to anger.
Proverbs 14:18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
A person who doesn’t take the time to become wise will inherit foolishness, while the person who diligently seeks knowledge will be crowned with it. A crown suggests royalty! We can choose to inherit royalty or choose to inherit the dung heap.
Good Always Wins In The End (19)
Proverbs 14:19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
It may not always seem like it, but in the end, good always wins, no matter how dark it gets. This is stated again in the NT where it says, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).
Love Your Neighbor (20-22)
Proverbs 14:20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
This seems to be the way things are in this age: rich people have many friends, and poor people are despised. It shouldn’t be this way.
Jesus said, “When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou mayest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee; for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:12-14).
Proverbs 14:21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Jesus says the second great commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39). We don’t want to be despised by our neighbors; we want to be loved, especially if we are going through hard times.
Proverbs 14:22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
There is that word mercy again. You know, there is this misconception from many people that the Old Testament is harsh and only full of judgment, while the New Testament introduces this new idea of grace and mercy. That’s simply not true. God was the same merciful God in the OT as he is in the NT, and the same just God who executes judgment in the NT as he does in the OT. Funny thing is, I’ve heard people say that the word “mercy” or “grace” isn’t in the OT. Well, here is the word “mercy”!
Taking Action vs. Just Talking (23-24)
Proverbs 14:23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
This is probably where the old saying came into being: “Talk is cheap”. Some people always talk about grand goals or ideas but never take action, never put in the labour to reach a goal. I’m sure this has never happened to any of us. Haha.
You know my wife would say I spend too much time planning projects, and I would say she too often jumps into projects without a plan. There needs to be a balance. You don’t want to spend all day planning and not take any action. Similarly, you don’t want to jump into a project without proper planning and end up with low-quality results or waste a day building only to start over from scratch due to mistakes. Plan, and then take action.
In Luke 14:28-30, Jesus explains the importance of sitting down to plan before attempting to build something like a tower, so that you’ve done enough calculations to be sure you have what it takes to complete it.
Proverbs 14:24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
Honest gain, or riches gained by diligent labor, is considered a crown of the wise, or proof that someone has wisdom. Look at Solomon. The riches he gained from his wisdom made him a world-renowned person at that time, the kind of person who people like the Queen of Sheba travelled long distances to come and talk with him, in hopes of attaining some of the wisdom he possessed (See 1 Kings 4:20-34).
Saving Souls (25-27)
Proverbs 14:25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
A true witness can save the innocent from being wrongly convicted of crimes they didn’t commit. So important to be brave enough to tell the truth. On another level, as Christians, our #1 mission in life is to bear true witness of the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:17) in an attempt to save souls!
Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
You want true confidence and security, revere the LORD.
Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Wow! In the beginning of this book it says that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7), but here it goes even farther and says it is a fountain or source of life. Do you love, respect, and fear the Lord?
Leadership (28-31)
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.
A king isn’t a king without people to lead. That’s the nature of politics. A successful king needs to be someone who inspires others to support them as leaders.
Proverbs 14:29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
It does take great understanding and patience to be slow to anger, but doing so will prove to be a blessing to ourselves and others. This is especially important for people in leadership, like a king!
Proverbs 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
Increasingly, the medical field is discovering that one’s health can be greatly influenced by their mental or spiritual state. Stress, anger, and other spiritual or mental imbalances can hurt our health, even as much as an unhealthy diet or lifestyle. That’s why it’s vital for us to constantly reflect on our lives and eliminate or properly deal with things that cause stress or other negative emotions.
Proverbs 14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
In Matthew 25:40 Jesus says, “Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Righteousness Exalts, Sin Brings Shame (32-35)
Proverbs 14:32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
When the wicked die, there is no hope, nothing but shame. But when a righteous person dies, they have hope of entering into eternal life.
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.
A person without wisdom will be known as a fool to everyone.
Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
There is a strong connection between this proverb and Deuteronomy 28. It’s pretty simple. Righteousness brings blessings upon nations while sin brings curses. We’ve seen this direct correlation in America. Our country is on the verge of collapse due to years of great national sins like abortion and the promotion of the anti-family and anti-white racist pagan sex cult movement known as LGBTQ+. Praise God, though, because there seems to be elements of a potential spiritual revival happening.
Watch: LGBTQ+ A Destructive Sex Cult
Proverbs 14:35 The king’s favour is toward a wise servant, but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
Kings, Presidents, CEO’s, and other leaders greatly appreciate loyal and wise employees/workers/public servants. As Christians, we should strive to be wise servants in all that we do, whether we are serving our fellow man or serving the Almighty God (See Colossians 3:23).