Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary

Proverbs 14

Commentaries

Proverbs 14:1 A woman who has no fear of God, who is wilful and wasteful, and indulges her ease, will as certainly ruin her family, as if she plucked her house down. MHBC 643.1

Proverbs 14:2 Here are grace and sin in their true colours. Those that despise God's precepts and promises, despise God and all his power and mercy. MHBC 643.2

Proverbs 14:3 Pride grows from that root of bitterness which is in the heart. The root must be plucked up, or we cannot conquer this branch. The prudent words of wise men get them out of difficulties. MHBC 643.3

Proverbs 14:4 There can be no advantage without something which, though of little moment, will affright the indolent. MHBC 643.4

Proverbs 14:5 A conscientious witness will not dare to represent anything otherwise than according to his knowledge. MHBC 643.5

Proverbs 14:6 A scorner treats Divine things with contempt. He that feels his ignorance and unworthiness will search the Scriptures in a humble spirit. MHBC 643.6

Proverbs 14:7 We discover a wicked man if there is no savour of piety in his discourse. MHBC 643.7

Proverbs 14:8 We are travellers, whose concern is, not to spy out wonders, but to get to their journey's end; to understand the rules we are to walk by, also the ends we are to walk toward. The bad man cheats himself, and goes on in his mistake. MHBC 643.8

Proverbs 14:9 Foolish and profane men consider sin a mere trifle, to be made light of rather than mourned over. Fools mock at the sin-offering; but those that make light of sin, make light of Christ. MHBC 643.9

Proverbs 14:10 We do not know what stings of conscience, or consuming passions, torment the prosperous sinner. Nor does the world know the peace of mind a serious Christian enjoys, even in poverty and sickness. MHBC 643.10

Proverbs 14:11 Sin ruins many great families; whilst righteousness often raises and strengthens even mean families. MHBC 643.11

Proverbs 14:12 The ways of carelessness, of worldliness, and of sensuality, seem right to those that walk in them; but self-deceivers prove self-destroyers. See the vanity of carnal mirth. MHBC 643.12

Proverbs 14:14 Of all sinners backsliders will have the most terror when they reflect on their own ways. MHBC 643.13

Proverbs 14:15 Eager readiness to believe what others say, has ever proved mischievous. The whole world was thus ruined at first. The man who is spiritually wise, depends on the Saviour alone for acceptance. He is watchful against the enemies of his salvation, by taking heed to God's word. MHBC 643.14

Proverbs 14:16 Holy fear guards against every thing unholy. MHBC 643.15

Proverbs 14:17 An angry man is to be pitied as well as blamed; but the revengeful is more hateful. MHBC 643.16

Proverbs 14:18 Sin is the shame of sinners; but wisdom is the honour of the wise. MHBC 643.17

Proverbs 14:19 Even bad men acknowledge the excellency of God's people. MHBC 643.18

Proverbs 14:20 Friendship in the world is governed by self-interest. It is good to have God our Friend; he will not desert us. MHBC 643.19

Proverbs 14:21 To despise a man for his employment or appearance is a sin. MHBC 643.20

Proverbs 14:22 How wisely those consult their own interest, who not only do good, but devise it! MHBC 643.21

Proverbs 14:23 Labour of the head, or of the hand, will turn to some good account. But if men's religion runs all out in talk and noise, they will come to nothing. MHBC 643.22

Proverbs 14:24 The riches of men of wisdom and piety enlarge their usefulness. MHBC 643.23

Proverbs 14:25 An upright man will venture the displeasure of the greatest, to bring truth to light. MHBC 643.24

Proverbs 14:26,27 Those who fear the Lord so as to obey and serve him, have a strong ground of confidence, and will be preserved. Let us seek to this Fountain of life, that we may escape the snares of death. MHBC 643.25

Proverbs 14:28 Let all that wish well to the kingdom of Christ, do what they can, that many may be added to his church. MHBC 643.26

Proverbs 14:29 A mild, patient man is one that learns of Christ, who is Wisdom itself. Unbridled passion is folly made known. MHBC 643.27

Proverbs 14:30 An upright, contented, and benevolent mind, tends to health. MHBC 643.28

Proverbs 14:31 To oppress the poor is to reproach our Creator. MHBC 643.29

Proverbs 14:32 The wicked man has his soul forced from him; he dies in his sins, under the guilt and power of them. But godly men, though they have pain and some dread of death, have the blessed hope, which God, who cannot lie, has given them. MHBC 643.30

Proverbs 14:33 Wisdom possesses the heart, and thus regulates the affections and tempers. MHBC 643.31

Proverbs 14:34 Piety and holiness always promote industry, sobriety, and honesty. MHBC 643.32

Proverbs 14:35 The great King who reigns over heaven and earth, will reward faithful servants who honour his gospel by the proper discharge of the duties of their stations: he despises not the services of the lowest. MHBC 643.33