Proverbs

CHAPTER 14

but Folly tears hers down with her own hands.^*

but those who are devious in their ways spurn him.

but the lips of the wise preserve them.

but abundant crops come through the strength of the bull.^*

but one who spouts lies makes a lying witness.^{* a}

but knowledge is easy for the intelligent.

you get no knowledge from such lips.

but the folly of fools is deceit.^*

but the upright find acceptance.

and its joy no stranger shares.^*

but the tent of the upright will flourish.^{* b}

but the end of it leads to death!^c

and the end of joy may be sorrow.

from their own actions, the loyal.

but the shrewd watch their steps.^*

the fool is reckless and gets embroiled.

and schemers are hated.

but the shrewd wear knowledge as a crown.^*

and the wicked, at the gates of the just.

but a rich person’s friends are many.^d

but happy the one who is kind to the poor!^*

But those who plan good win steadfast loyalty.

but mere talk tends only to loss.

the diadem of fools is folly.

but whoever utters lies is a betrayer.

a refuge even for one’s children.

turning one from the snares of death.

but if his people are few, a prince is ruined.

a short temper raises folly high.^{* e}

but jealousy rots the bones.

but those who are kind to the needy honor him.^f

but the just find a refuge in their integrity.

but among fools she must make herself known.^{* g}

but sin is a people’s disgrace.^*

but the shameless one incurs his wrath.

* [14:1] The relationship between Wisdom, personified as a woman, and building a house is a constant theme. As elsewhere, the book here warns against the wrong woman and praises the right woman.

* [14:4] If one has no animals, one does not have the burden of keeping the crib full, but without them one will have no crops to fill the barn. Colon B reverses the sense of colon A and also reverses the consonants of bar (“clean”) to rab (“abundant”).

* [14:5] On discerning the truthfulness of witnesses; see 12:17.

* [14:8] Wisdom enables the shrewd to know their path is right but folly leads fools on the wrong path (“deceit”), which calls down retribution.

* [14:10] The heart in Proverbs is where a person’s sense impressions are stored and reflected upon. It is thus one’s most personal and individual part. One’s sorrows and joys (= the full range of emotions) cannot be shared fully with another. Verse 13 expresses the same individuality of the human person.

* [14:11] The traditional fixed pair “house” and “tent” is used to express the paradox that a house can be less secure than a tent if there is no justice.

* [14:15] The naive gullibly rely on others’ words whereas the shrewd watch their own steps.

* [14:18] The inner quality of a person, simple or wise, will eventually be revealed.

* [14:21] The paradox is that anyone who spurns the hungry will lack something, but anyone who shows mercy (presumably by giving to the poor) will gain prosperity.

* [14:29] A series of puns on short and long; lit., “long of nostrils (idiom for “patient”), large in wisdom, / short in breath (idiom for “impatient”), makes folly tall.”

* [14:33] Wisdom can remain silent in a wise person as a welcome friend. But it must speak out among fools, for the dissonance is so strong.

* [14:34] The rare noun “disgrace” occurs elsewhere only in Lv 20:17. In measuring the greatness of a nation, one is tempted to consider territory, wealth, history, but the most important criterion is its relationship to God (“justice”).

a. [14:5] Prv 12:17.

b. [14:11] Prv 3:33; 12:7; 15:25.

c. [14:12] Prv 16:25.

d. [14:20] Prv 19:4, 7; Sir 6:8, 12.

e. [14:29] Prv 16:32; 19:11; Jas 1:19.

f. [14:31] Prv 17:5.

g. [14:33] Prv 1:22; 8:1.