1 The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands. 2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him. 3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, But the lips of the wise will preserve them. 4 Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of an ox. 5 A faithful witness does not lie, But a false witness will utter lies. 6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it, But knowledge is easy to him who understands. 7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, When you do not perceive 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 mock at sin, But among the upright there is favor. 10 The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share its joy. 11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown, But the tent of the upright will flourish. 12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. 13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, And the end of mirth may be grief. 14 The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied from above. 15 The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps. 16 A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident. 17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of wicked intentions is hated. 18 The simple inherit folly, But the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19 The evil will bow before the good, And the wicked at the gates of the righteous. 20 The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor, But the rich has many friends. 21 He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he. 22 Do they not go astray who devise evil? But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good. 23 In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty. 24 The crown of the wise is their riches, But the foolishness of fools is folly. 25 A true witness delivers souls, But a deceitful witness speaks lies. 26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death. 28 In a multitude of people is a king’s honor, But in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince. 29 He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly. 30 A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones. 31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy. 32 The wicked is banished in his wickedness, But the righteous has a refuge in his death. 33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, But what is in the heart of fools is made known. 34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people. 35 The king’s favor is toward a wise servant, But his wrath is against him who causes shame.
Commentary
Vs. 1 “The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.
A wise woman by her conduct and by her decisions builds her house (See Prov. 31:10-31); in contrast the foolish woman only undermines hers; for example, by neglecting her own duties as a wife and mother and pursuing vain things, or constantly nagging and discouraging her husband, or not taking proper care of their children (which includes provision, instruction, and discipline and should involve both parents). And so, if her marriage and her house are not her primary focus, then she runs the risk of ruining both.
Vs. 2 “He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.
A person who walks uprightly shows that they have a healthy fear of the Lord, that they want to be pleasing to Him, while a person who is perverse (i.e., crooked) in their ways has little concern for such things, and thus they show themselves to only despise Him.
Vs. 3 “In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,
But the lips of the wise will preserve them.
The fool’s mouth is full of pride; and so, they will have to endure the wrath of God for it (consider Job 40:9-14; Psalm 10:3-4; Isaiah 2:11-12; 13:11 etc.). While the lips of wise will preserve them, because they shun such things.
Vs. 4 “Where no oxen are, the trough is clean;
But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.
In ancient times an ox was a powerful vessel, and a team of them could easily do the work of ten strong men, however without it, little land could actually be plowed by a single man laboring by hand, thus without its strength to assist one the trough is clean. However, much increase comes by the strength of an ox. And so, the lesson is by employing the right tools and equipment one not only makes the task easier, but also far more productive! Technology then should never be shunned by anyone in ministry when it is used in a Godly way for Godly purposes. “For the earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein Psalm 24:1
Vs. 5 “A faithful witness does not lie,
But a false witness will utter lies.
God is the God of Truth and those who believe in Him, who want to please Him, always strive to be truthful in all things. In contrast the false witness has no qualms about lying about anyone or anything if it serves them, and so their word should never be trusted.
Vs. 6 “A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it,
But knowledge is easy to him who understands.
A scoffers own arrogance shuts him out from attaining to wisdom, for the perquisite for wisdom and salvation from God is always humility (consider James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). Therefore, knowledge is easy to him who understands, because he sees his need, he gratefully receives His Word, and so it is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who by His Spirit who then instructs him, and everyone who believes in Him (John 2:27).
Vs. 7 “Go from the presence of a foolish man,
When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.”
One cannot learn, nor attain to understanding by listening to the words of fools. For giving audience to a foolish person’s speech is only akin to sharing in their folly and nonsense which they speak. Therefore, never do it. Never validate it, lest you unwittingly become a partaker and partner of it.
Vs. 8 “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
But the folly of fools is deceit.”
Because the wise person walks prudently, they understand their ways, therefore they conduct themselves and their affairs with discretion and with integrity. In contrast the fool has no such concerns, instead they only openly do and pursue all their hearts folly and shame to their own misery and ruin. Their folly then which seems “joyful” in the moment is only deceit.
V. 9 “Fools mock at sin,
But among the upright there is favor.”
Because there are often no immediate consequences, nor judgment for sin, fools in their self-deceived pride mock at sin, mock and scoff at those who preach against it. And yet judgment delayed is not judgment deferred, as the Scripture warns (consider Ecc. 8:11-13). Therefore, seek those who walk uprightly, or those who are repentant in heart, for you will always find favor and a listening audience with them. Therefore “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” Matt. 7:6
Vs. 10 “The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.
Though the “joy” of sin is often shared with others, the bitterness of sin never is.
Vs. 11 “The house of the wicked will be overthrown,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.
Even though a house is far superior to a tent, when the wicked build their houses they are only building what will be overthrown. Therefore, even the mere tent of the upright will find itself long established and flourishing long after the house of the wicked has come to ruins.
Vs. 12 “There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.”
Many people who are ignorant of Christ and the way of life, find themselves doing and pursuing what the world says is right, thus they are only living by its morality, by what popular culture says is right, or by how they were raised and influenced through their lives, and so what they do seems right to them. However, as every repentant sinner now knows their old ways of life only end in death. These then are the people whom God’s Word very often reaches and saves.
Vs. 13 “Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,
And the end of mirth may be grief.
Though one may be laughing outwardly, their heart may be sorrowing inwardly, this is the state of many who have not yet been born-again by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Similarly, the end of mirth (i.e., joy, celebration, partying etc.) just may be grief.
Vs. 14 “The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied from above.”
When one backslides away from the Lord and returns to their old sinful ways, they will be filled with them, with the consequences of them. However, a good man who remains faithful to Him will be satisfied from heaven above.
Vs. 15 “The simple believes every word,
But the prudent considers well his steps.”
Simple people believe everything told them, and so they are easily swayed or influenced or worse manipulated by others to do and believe whatever it is they are being told. Therefore, because they don’t discern good from evil, lies from truth, they fall into all kinds of traps and troubles. In contrast the prudent person considers the consequences and outcome of what they believe and do before they step out. Therefore, we must always discern by the Word of God what is being told us, because there are many false teachers and false prophets, many liars and deceivers, even cults etc. that want you to believe their lies and follow their deceitful and evil ways (consider Matt. 7:15-20).
Vs. 16 “A wise man fears and departs from evil,
But a fool rages and is self-confident.”
Wise people fear the Lord and depart from evil, they don’t “run with the crowd” to do and pursue whatever it is their doing or about to do. While the fool only rages at any provocation and self confidently pursues his own wrath to his own harm or ruin.
Vs. 17 “A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of wicked intentions is hated.”
Being quick to anger always distorts one’s perceptions and judgments, thus they act foolishly as they cast of restraint and give vent to their rage. Now as bad as that is, people will often bear it. However, a sinister person, who works treacherously behind people’s backs is always hated.
Vs. 18 “The simple inherit folly,
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.”
Simple people by their refusal grow in knowledge and understanding; and especially of the Lord; will only inherit folly, that is they will reap the all consequences of their own ignorance. However, those who are prudent, who do believe and seek to obey Him, will always grow in knowledge of Him, because they become doers of the Word and not just hearers (consider James 1:22-25), and thus they will be honored by God.
Vs. 19 “The evil will bow before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.”
This Proverb speaks most loudly to God’s finial triumph over evil, when every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father. Therefore, know that just as the Father has exalted His Son, so shall He also exalt in triumphful victory everyone who believes in Him (consider Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 20:6; also 1 Peter 2:9-10, not to mention the many passages concerning Jerusalem’s finial exaltation, just consider Isaiah 60:1-61:7).
Vs. 20 “The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor,
But the rich has many friends.”
One of curses of poverty is how it makes one ill esteemed in the eyes of others. And for some even to the point of open contempt and mistreatment. That the rich has many “friends” is not speaking to true friendship, rather people always respect and honor them, because they court their favor, and in this ambitious and self-serving people are most adept.
Vs 21 “He who despises his neighbor sins;
But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.”
In the previous proverb we were told how the poor is hated even by his own neighbor, and so here we are told that to despise one’s neighbor is only to sin, because all people fundamentally bear the Image of God, and we are all universally in need of Him. Thus, to despise one’s neighbor only reveals one’s own ignorance and arrogance. In contrast then with that very wrong and ungodly attitude is the one who has mercy on the poor, they are happy because they honor the Lord by doing so (consider James 2:5-13). Again, to despise one’s neighbor is sin because he dwells by you for safety sakes (consider Prov. 3:29).
Vs. 22 “Do they not go astray who devise evil?
But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.”
Those who plot evil and harm against others only undermine themselves, because by doing such things they only move themselves farther away from God and farther into darkness.
Vs. 23 “In all labor there is profit,
But idle chatter leads only to poverty.”
Any labor, even the most menially and mundane labor is profitable, because by it one receives payment and reward. However, those who spend their time in idle chatter will earn nothing but poverty for themselves.
Vs. 24 “The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the foolishness of fools is folly.”
Wise people are crowned with riches, and not just materially wealth, (which is really a measure of nothing, since time and chance happens to us all, Ecc. 9:11-12), but wealth in a more complete sense, involving the quality of one’s life and relationships, especially one’s relationship with God who adorns all who believe and obey Him with salvations riches (1 Cor. 4:8; Gal. 5:22-23). Therefore, shun the foolishness of the fools, because their ways are only full of folly, and so that will be their reward and inheritance from Him.
Vs. 25 “A true witness delivers souls,
But a deceitful witness speaks lies.”
A true witness will always deliver souls whether in God’s court or mans, but a deceitful witness will only speaks lies because they fear neither God nor man. Here we see the contrast between the genuine believer and a false brother. For the genuine believer speaking the truth of Christ’s Gospel is just a matter of course of their new life, for it is God’s truth that saved and transformed them, and so they will bear true witness to it, through their persons and lives as well as with their mouths. Therefore, when believers speak the truth in love, (of God’s love and grace extended to us all, but also His Holiness, righteousness, wrath and justice) they will deliver souls from hell, not every soul, but every soul whom God has appointed to eternal life (Acts 13:48). In contrast a deceitful witness will only speak lies, for they regard neither God, nor man, and so they will speak lies (in hypocrisy) just to try to impress people, or to deceive and mislead, so as to make “coverts” for themselves.
Vs. 26 “In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.”
Every one who fears the Lord shall have strong confidence, because the Lord defends and protects all who do so, for He makes their paths straight, and so even their children will find a place of refuge with Him.
Vs. 27 “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.”
When one fears the Lord, they repent and depart from evil, thus it is a fountain of life, because they find new and everlasting life for themselves by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Vs. 28 “In a multitude of people is a king’s honor,
But in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.”
A king is honored when he is established by a loyal and a large constituency. While a prince only finds ruin when he is “established” and “honored” only by a few.
Vs. 29 “He who is slow to wrath has great understanding,
But he who is impulsive exalts folly.”
Being slow to wrath is a sign of having great understanding, great wisdom, great self-control, for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God, therefore the wise are slow to it (James 1:20). While the impulsive individual, who is only driven by their impulses, and thus is set of by anything, shows neither tact, nor understanding, nor wisdom, nor self-control, and so who would you rather follow, emulate, and or submit yourself too?
Vs. 30 “A sound heart is life to the body,
But envy is rottenness to the bones.”
Having a sound heart nourishes one’s own body, giving it life and vitality, all which begins with having good and Godly thoughts and desires towards all. In contrast is the one who only eyes others with envy, these folks darkened hearts only eat away at their own lives.
Vs. 31 “He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,
But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.”
Since God has throughout the Scriptures called us to defend the poor and He has chosen the poor to be rich in faith and heirs of the promises to those who believe in Him, those who mistreat, abuse, or use the poor are only reproaching Him in the worst way, and so they will repeat just what they have sown! In contrast then is the one whose hearts considers the cause of the poor, and thus who show mercy to them, they indeed then are honoring God and will be honored by Him as well (consider Isaiah 58:6-12; Luke 12:12-14; Matt. 25:31-46; James 2 etc.).
Vs. 32 “The wicked is banished in his wickedness,
But the righteous has a refuge in his death.”
Throughout the Scriptures the wicked are assured of one thing, and that is their eternal banishment from the Presence of the Lord (consider 2 Thess. 1:8-10). Equally then God assures the righteous; that is those who believe and thus who live righteous lives here and now because their trust and faith is in Him; in His Son, that not only will He be their refuge in this life, but they will also have a refuge in their death (consider Psalm 37).
Vs. 33 “Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
But what is in the heart of fools is made known.”
The person who has understanding by default has wisdom in their hearts, for the two are inseparably linked. And so, they know how and when and what to speak and not speak. In contrast whatever is in the heart of a fool is made known.
Vs. 34 “Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a reproach to any people.”
This is a universal principal established by God who alone raises up one nation and brings another down. Therefore if any nation wants to be exalted by God, who alone determines the length of their tenure as well as their destinies, righteousness according to His Word is the sole path to it. That said any nation who exalts and justifies sin is sure to bring His reproach upon itself (consider Lev. 18:24-28).
Vs. 35 “The king’s favor is toward a wise servant,
But his wrath is against him who causes shame.”
Any ruler, any leader always has high regard for a wise servant, that is a person who conducts themselves wisely in his service, for they are a representation of his person, name and work. Therefore, his wrath is against those who cause shame, who bring reproach to his name, stature, and or service.
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
