--- title: "Proverbs 14 - Study King James Bible with preachers complete homiletical commentary" description: "Read Proverbs 14 with preachers complete homiletical commentary commentary. 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" image: "/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg" url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/preachers-complete-homiletical-commentary/proverbs/14" --- [ Read](/kjv/proverbs/14)[ Commentary](/study/proverbs/14)[ Interlinear](/interlinear/proverbs/14) Audio 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. [Proverbs 13](/study/proverbs/13) [Proverbs 15](/study/proverbs/15) ## Commentary To verse 1 CRITICAL NOTES.— **[Proverbs 14:1](/kjv/proverbs/14/1)****. Wise woman**, or “woman’s wisdom.” *MAIN HOMILETICS OF**[Proverbs 14:1](/kjv/proverbs/14/1)* THE HOUSE BUILDER AND THE HOUSE DESTROYER **I. A woman’s special sphere of work—her house**. In this word is included all that in any way relates to the home life. Woman’s relation to it is threefold. 1. *The house—properly so-called—the interior of the building, is under her especial care*. It is her temple of service, she is its priestess. As the female priestess in the Roman temple and the Hebrew priest in the temple of God were responsible for the internal order of their temples, so is every woman responsible for the order, the cleanliness, and comfort of the house of which she is the social priestess. It is *her* house, and in it she is expected to perform duties to which she is not called in any other house. Her oversight and presence, if not her actual labour, are indispensable to the proper arrangement of everything in it. 2. *The affairs or business of the house is her special care*. It is for her to preside over the domestic economy of the house—over that which we call *housekeeping*. All transactions of this nature seem naturally to fall within her jurisdiction, and it looks odd and out of place to see them in other hands. 3. *She is specially related to the life of the house*. If she is a mother, she, above all others, has the charge of the children, her opportunities for influencing them are greater than those possessed by the father. Her life is always before them. Her words are treasured up and repeated by them. If she is a mistress, the servants are under her special jurisdiction and guidance. **II. The wise woman is a social architect**. She “builds her house.” 1. *Building implies a plan*. No man sets about building a house without first having a plan, which is well considered in proportion to the wisdom of the builder. No argument-builder, with any wisdom, enters into an argument without first considering what he is going to do, and how he is going to do it, in order, if possible, to arrive at an unanswerable conclusion. So, to build a house in the sense of the text, there must be a plan of action. Every wise woman has an end in view in the government of her household. She has plans in relation to each department. She knows what she purposes to do before she begins to do anything. 2. *Building implies personal exertion on the part of the architect*. All his work is not done when he has drawn the plan and issued his orders. He must see that they are executed. He must, if needful, show how they are to be carried out. In times of emergency the general of an army must—like Napoleon at the Bridge of Lodi—engage himself in a hand-to-hand fight with the enemy. So will a wise woman. She does not always say, “Go,” but sometimes “Come.” She does not say, “*That* is the way,” when “*This* is the way” is necessary. She never contents herself with saying, “Do this,” without assuring herself that *it is* done. 3. *Building implies a union of diverse materials to form a complete whole*. Many and diverse materials are brought together to build a house. It would be impossible to erect a building of usefulness and beauty of one material alone. So a wise woman brings together many different elements, and blends them in due proportion, in order to make the home-life true, and beautiful, and good. Her wisdom is shown in developing the abilities and capacities of each member of the household, so that each may contribute to the strength and comfort of the whole. Upon the female head of the house, more than upon anyone else, depends the unity, peace, and concord of this temple of living stones. **III. An unwise woman, who is at the head of a house, caricatures her position by her conduct**. Her position implies that she is a builder-up. Her conduct has the effect of pulling down. A clown upon a kingly throne is not more out of place than a foolish woman who bears the name of mistress, wife, and mother. The reins are in her hands, but she does not know how to guide the chariot; the materials are in her possession but she has no skill to use them. She is not only no centre of unity, she is a source of discord; she not only cannot build the house herself but she makes it impossible for anybody else to do anything towards it. She is not only no “crown to her husband,” but she is “rottenness to his bones” (chap. [Proverbs 12:4](/kjv/proverbs/12/4)). *OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS* A good wife is heaven’s last best gift to a man; his angel of mercy; minister of graces innumerable; his gem of many virtues; his casket of jewels; her voice, his sweetest music; her smiles, his brightest day; her kiss, the guardian of his innocence; her arms, the pale of his safety; the balm of his health, the balsam of his life; her industry, his surest wealth; her economy, his safest steward; her lips, his faithful counsellors; her bosom, the softest pillow of his cares; and her prayers, the ablest advocates of heaven’s blessings on his head.—*Jeremy Taylor*. The following is a translation of a Welsh Triad:—A good wife is modest, void of deceit, and obedient; pure of conscience, gracious of tongue, and true to her husband; her heart not proud, her manners affable, and her bosom full of compassion for the poor, labouring to be tidy, skilful of hand, and fond of praying to God; her conversation amiable, her dress decent, and her house orderly; quick of hand, quick of eye, and quick of understanding; her face benignant, her head intelligent, and provident, neighbourly, gentle, and of a liberal way of thinking; able in directing, providing what is wanting, and a good mother to her children; loving her husband, loving peace, and God.—*New Handbook of Illustration*. “*House*” means *all interests*. “Has built” is preterite. If all interests are prosperous at present, it has been the work of the past. The second clause wisely returns to the future, which we commonly translate as the present, because the act is steadily running on, and includes both the present and the future. *Wisdom in woman* has built *her house*, beginning a long time ago; but “*folly*” in women is an affair of the present. If it had been at work long, it would have had no house to pull down. As entering upon the work of the wise, ungodly mothers tear down the house which generations of the righteous have been slowly building. The grand comment, however, is that this womanly wisdom or wise woman, like the woman of grace (chap. [Proverbs 9:16](/kjv/proverbs/9/16)), or woman of folly (chap. [Proverbs 9:13](/kjv/proverbs/9/13)) has an allegoric meaning. Women do much toward building up. But the text means more, that “*wisdom*,” as personified, is the only builder of a “*house*,” and “*folly*,” as impenitence, all that can pull it down.—*Miller*. Only the characteristic wisdom of *woman* (not that of the man) is able to “build itself a house,” *i.e.*, to make possible a household in the true sense of the word; for the woman alone has the capacity circumspectly to look through the multitude of individual household wants, and carefully to satisfy them; and also because the various activities of the members of a family can be combined in a harmonious unity only by the influence, partly regulative, and partly fostering, of a feminine character, gently but steadily efficient. But where there is wanting to the mistress of a house this wisdom attainable only by her, and appropriate only to her, then that is irrecoverably lost which first binds in a moral fellowship those connected by relationship of blood—that which makes the house, from a mere place of abode, to be the spiritual nursery of individuals organically associated.—*Elster*. The fullest recognition that has as yet met us of the importance of woman, for good or evil, in all human society. *Plumptre*. With calm, clear eyes, deep insight, ready sympathy; active, without bustle; alert, without over-anxious vigilance; ignorant perchance of æsthetic rules, yet with subtle touches transforming into a fine picture the home-spun canvas, and with a soft fairy music blending into harmony the noises of the day; apathetic about stocks and shares, and far-off millions; but with a keen appreciation of new sovereigns and no disdain for sixpences; a mere formalist, if professing interest in city improvements and parochial reforms, but as touching torn curtains and threadbare carpets much exercised in spirit; sure that the commotions of Europe will all come right, but shedding bitter tears at any outburst of juvenile waywardness, and praying earnestly, “Oh, that Ishmael may live before thee!” with small belief in the transcendental philosophy, and allowing that much may be said on both sides, but in the interpretation of the Ten Commandments positive, unreasoning, absolute; in theology hopelessly confounding the theology of the schools, and in an innocent way adopting half the heresies, but drinking direct from the fountain that living water which others prefer, chalybeate, through the iron pipe, or ærated from the filtering pond, and in a style which Calvin or Grotius might equally envy teaching the little ones the love of the Saviour; the angel of the house moulds a family for heaven, and by dint of holy example, and gentle control, her early and most efficacious ministry goes farther than any other to lay the foundations of future excellence, and train up sons and daughters for the Lord Almighty.—*Dr. Jas. Hamilton*. St. Ambrose noteth that when God asked Abraham, “Where is thy wife, Sarah?”—He was not ignorant where Sarah was; but that He asked the question that by Abraham’s answer, “Behold, in the tent,” He might teach women where they ought to be—namely, in the house, and not so much in the house as in the affairs of the house, making ready provision to entertain God as Sarah was.—*Jermin*. The modest virgin, the prudent wife, or the careful matron, are much more serviceable in life than petticoated philosophers, blustering heroines, or virago queens. She who makes her husband and her children happy, who reclaims the one from vice and trains the other to virtue, is a much greater character than ladies described in romance, whose whole occupation is to murder mankind with shafts from their quiver or their eyes.—*Goldsmith*. ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/preachers-complete-homiletical-commentary/proverbs/14#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg","width":672,"height":448,"caption":"Real Bible Believers"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/preachers-complete-homiletical-commentary/proverbs/14#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/preachers-complete-homiletical-commentary/proverbs/14","name":"Proverbs 14 - Study King James Bible with preachers complete homiletical commentary","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/preachers-complete-homiletical-commentary/proverbs/14#primaryimage"},"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"Read Proverbs 14 with preachers complete homiletical commentary commentary. 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","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/preachers-complete-homiletical-commentary/proverbs/14#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/preachers-complete-homiletical-commentary/proverbs/14"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/preachers-complete-homiletical-commentary/proverbs/14#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study","name":"Study Bible"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/preachers-complete-homiletical-commentary","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/preachers-complete-homiletical-commentary","name":"preachers complete homiletical commentary"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/preachers-complete-homiletical-commentary/proverbs","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/preachers-complete-homiletical-commentary/proverbs","name":"Proverbs"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/preachers-complete-homiletical-commentary/proverbs/14","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/preachers-complete-homiletical-commentary/proverbs/14","name":"14"}}]},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","width":512,"height":512},"logo":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo"},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/RBiblebeliever","https://www.facebook.com/RBibleBelievers"]}]} ```