Proverbs Chapter 14

Pro 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

A wise woman will work to make sure her household is a place of stability. It would not be a place of confusion and disorder. She would make sure it was a place of refuge, peace and godliness. A foolish woman would destroy all this and cause trouble in the household. There would be no place of peace and refuge from the cares of the world but only confusion and strife.

Pro 14:2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

We live in a society today where there is no fear of God. It is getting to the place that evil is called good and good is called evil. To live by the bible is looked down on and some consider it wrong to interpret the bible literally. Those that live by the word is called either a literalist or fundamentalist and they are looked at with disapproval. Yet we who believe must obey God rather than man.

Pro 14:3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

Pride is the ugly motive we will find behind most foolishness.

Pro 14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

In the past, much oxen was a sign of wealth because they depended on them to plow the fields.

Pro 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

How blessed it is to associate with people of truth. We can rely on them, we are not afraid of deception. Those that speak one thing in our presence and speak another behind our backs are those that are not trustworthy.

Pro 14:6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

If we desire to have wisdom and knowledge, the bible is the place to start. There is no other place to find it. Yet it is the most neglected study. We emphasize education so much and neglect the source of all knowledge and wisdom. Go figure.

Pro 14:7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

It is best not to hang around those that speak foolishness constantly.

Pro 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
Pro 14:9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favor.

I am reminded of many things I've heard said which kind of mock at sin:

"We're only human"
"Everyone sins a little bit every day."
"Everybody does it."
"I'm not perfect, just forgiven."
"Its just a little white lie."
"We're only having fun."
"Get a life."

Many of these are not completely untrue and some of them are not actually wrong to say but in many cases, it is said as a copout to avoid repenting of sin. Some are said to excuse sin and ignore the need of repentance and getting our sins under the blood of Jesus. If one studies the scriptures, we will see that yes, God does forgive sin, we cannot save ourselves and God does have mercy but we also see that God never once condones continuing in sin once we have come to Jesus Christ. While it is true, "we are only human," it is also true that since we are only human we need a savior from sin. To be saved from sin, one must first look to Jesus as savior and repent or turn away from sin and turn to Christ Jesus.

We can read the book of Jude and the first three chapters of Revelation to see how Christ Himself views sin in the church.

Pro 14:10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
Pro 14:11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

We see this fulfilled in the last few chapters of Revelation when all evil is done away with forever.

Pro 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Our ways and God's ways do not agree most of the time. We may think something is right until we study the word and seek God. We then will get a different picture of holiness.

Pro 14:13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

Notice how jokes, comedy and funny things disappear once trouble comes.

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

It is the saddest thing to see one who once knew God and lived for Him only to turn away and go back to the sin he or she was saved from.

Pro 14:15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

How many of us assume everything we hear on the news is true? Do we believe everything we are told by our friends or co-workers? We must be prudent and realize that most of our friends may not deliberately lie but they can hear wrong, hear a lie from someone else or be mistaken.

We took a test in school once, where the teacher whispered something to the first student and that student passed it on to the next. By the time it got to the last student, the message had changed tremendously.

This is what happens in real life. A prudent person will check out facts before passing on a message.

Pro 14:16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

Not all fear is bad. Many times we fear things that we should not fear if we are truly trusting in God but there are some things to be fearful of. That is the fear of doing evil or being part of something evil. To avoid, pass by and reject evil is a good fear to have.

Pro 14:17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

I don't know how many times I've been thankful that I didn't act at a time when I was angry.

Pro 14:18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

This word for simple means those that do not examine things in the light of God's word but act according to their own desires, wants or in anger.

Pro 14:19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

In the long run this will prove true in every case.

Pro 14:20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbor: but the rich hath many friends.

Pro 14:21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

The parable of the good Samaritan should be read here. It can be read in Luke 10. We are not to despise the poor.

We see this among us as Christians believe it or not. The prosperity gospel teaches us to despise those that are poor. The poor are told that they have no faith, that they are not in favor with God and that we should give to those who do not have anything. This is not the gospel Jesus taught. I believe God allows the poor to be among us to see how we treat them.

Pro 14:22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
Pro 14:23 In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

Idleness and foolish talk brings us to poverty.

Pro 14:24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

Some are poor because of the situation they were born with but others get that way by foolish wasteful living. When we spend wisely and give cheerfully, we should not be poor as far as the being poverty stricken. Most of the time we get ourselves in trouble financially. This is not a license to despise the poor and neglect those that cannot help themselves. Like I said previously, I believe God allows the poor among us to see how we are going to treat them. We are not to have respect of persons and despise the poor.

Pro 14:25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

It is not politically correct to tell the truth and warn the sinner of his ways but we must speak and teach the truth and deliver souls from eternal punishment and into eternal life. If we speak lies that tell them that they are okay in their sins, we will destroy their souls. They will die in sin and not be saved. They may think we are their friends in this life but in hell they will curse us for not telling them the truth.

Pro 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
Pro 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

We cannot stress this enough. The lack of this fear is what is wrong with our nation and many other nations. Look at countries where they do not believe in Jesus Christ and where they worship other gods. The poverty level is tremendous. If you look at places where there is high population, high poverty, starving children, it is usually a place where the truth is lacking in every way. If you look at places with false religion, you will see oppression. If you look at countries that once knew the truth but have lost the fear of God, you will see high crime, sexual immorality, families breaking up, confused children and trouble. If we keep on going this way, we will become like third world countries that I described previously.

The lack of the fear of God will cause poverty, oppression, tyranny, sexual disease, high crime, and even no protection in times of natural disasters such at earthquakes and hurricanes. Why should God protect us when we reject Him? Why should He save us from these disasters when we ignore Him most of the time? I don't think God's spirit will dwell in a place where He is not wanted.

Pro 14:28 In the multitude of people is the king's honor: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

When people do not have enough food, shelter and clothing, they hate whoever is in charge. We tend to blame the president if the economy is bad.

Pro 14:29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

The saying, "Count to ten before losing one's temper," comes into play here. Being short tempered gets us in plenty of trouble.

Pro 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Envy is what caused the first murder ever to be committed in the history of mankind. Cain envied God's approval of his brother, Abel.

Pro 14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoreth him hath mercy on the poor.

Again I repeat, I believe God allows the poor to remain among us to see how we treat them.

Pro 14:32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

There is hope of eternal life in those that are righteous. How can we be righteous?

Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Phi 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ,

1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Through Jesus, God made a way that the vilest sinner could become righteous and inherit eternal life. To ignore this is to die in our own sins and lose our souls.

Pro 14:33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
Pro 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

We only need to read a truthful history book to confirm this truth.

Pro 14:35 The king's favor is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.


Even kings that do not fear or honor God prefers a faithful servant and one that tells the truth.

PROVERBS 15