PROVERBS 14 (KING JAMES VERSION)

PROVERBS 14  (KJV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

   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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

   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.

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

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

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

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

   26) In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence:
     and his children shall have a place of refuge.

   27) The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
     to depart from the snares of death.

   28) In the multitude of people is the king's honour:
     but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

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

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

   31) He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker:
     but he that honoureth Him hath mercy on the poor.

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

   33) Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding:
     but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

   34) Righteousness exalteth a nation:
     but sin is a reproach to any people.

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

Commentary

   Definition of penury according to merriam-webster.com:  poverty, indigence, want; destitution mean the state of one with insufficient resources

   Verse 1:  A wise woman bears the children and raises them.  She doesn't stop there, though.  She also tends to the house, keeps the finances in order, gives assistance to the family she was born into when needed (as well as her husband's family), cares for her husband and shows him respect, etc.  She is a rock.   So, let me ask you:  which scenario describes your life?   She does not give, but takes from her husband, children, and the family she was born into.  She does not take care to pay the bills or keep the children clean and happy.  Her husband does not look forward to returning home after work.

   Verse 2:  We have only to open our eyes and look around us to verify this verse.  Those who are prideful and bent on the destruction of others do not believe in The Omnipotent Living God.  The Righteous walk the straight and narrow in all they do, trying to please God.

   Verse 4:  This verse is speaking of husbandry, the care, cultivation, and breeding of crops and animals.  It is speaking of working.  The ox is a work animal.  Not only is it valuable alive, but also dead.  However, when you have an ox, you have to feed it, work it, clean it's stall of manure, etc.  Compare the ox  to your pet dog or cat that you own just so you can brag to your friends that you have it.  Keep that which is for use and service, not for prestige and show.

    Don't misunderstand this verse.  Pets are good.  Work animals are better.  These days, most people work off of the farm or ranch.  Work is the key here.  Don't be lazy and expect others to support you.  You will not prosper that way.

   Verse 10:  Some experiences cannot be shared with others, even the telling of them.  They are not understood by others, whether it be great bitterness or great joy

Verse 20:  Humans have a tendency of treating someone who has wealth better than someone who looks as though they don't have much money.  Be careful of this behavior in ourselves.  We should not "judge a book by it's cover", but open the pages and see what is inside the heart.

Verse 28) A small country can be intimidated by larger countries with massive armies.  Know this:  Gideon's army was larger than God wanted, so He had it reduced to 300 rather than 3,000 warriors.  Israel, likewise, was protected by God, as they were His chosen people.  All they had to do (which also applies to Christians today) was to obey Him.  It is not the multitude of the people that we trust in, but in Jehovah Tsaba!  https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-names-of-god-jehova-tsaba.html

Verse 29) The "hasty of spirit", or quick tempered people often regret their action because it causes more trouble than they started with.  Those who are slow to "wrath" (anger) take their time and consider not only the source of the trouble, but also weighs their response to it.

Verse 30) This is one of my favorite verses because it shows we have a lot of control of our human disease processes.  When we are at peace and practice gratefulness, we are healthier.  When we stress, stay angry or fearful, when we envy, when we hold a grudge against others, we are more prone to health issues such as high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, heart disease, etc.

   

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