Wisdom Builds and Foolishness Destroys
Study note
The chapter opens with the powerful image of a wise woman building her household while a foolish one tears it down with her own hands. These proverbs cover honesty, hard work, and the difference between the wise and the foolish. The famous saying about an empty stable (verse 4) means that keeping things neat and easy requires no real work, but real productivity involves some mess.
1 A woman who is wise builds her home into something strong, but a foolish woman rips hers apart with her own two hands. Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
2 Living an honest life shows that you honor God. But being sneaky in the way you live shows you do not care about him at all. He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
3 A fool's arrogant talk earns them a beating, but wise people are protected by the careful things they say. In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
4 Sure, an empty barn stays clean, but it takes a strong ox to bring in a big harvest. Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 A trustworthy witness always tells the truth. But a lying witness tells lies with every breath. A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
6 A mocker goes looking for wisdom but never manages to find any. Meanwhile, understanding flows easily to someone who already has good sense. A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
7 Walk away from a fool. You will not learn a single useful thing from them. Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
8 Wise people use their smarts to figure out where their life is going, but fools are so foolish they trick themselves. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Fools laugh at the idea of making up for their wrongs. But good people show kindness to each other. Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
The Way That Seems Right
Study note
Verse 12 contains one of the most important warnings in all of Proverbs: a path may look perfectly right to a person, but it actually leads to death. This teaches that human judgment alone is not reliable. We need God's wisdom to see where our choices are really leading us. Other proverbs in this section deal with hidden sorrow, the foolishness of believing everything you hear, and the importance of careful thought.
10 Only your own heart fully knows the depth of its pain, and no outsider can truly share in its deepest joy. The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
11 Whatever the wicked build up will be torn down. But what an upright person has, even if it is small, will do well. The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
12 Sometimes a road looks right to the person walking on it, but that road's final stop is death. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
13 Laughter can hide a hurting heart. The happiest moment can be followed by sadness. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
14 People who turn away from God will face the full results of their choices. But a good person will be paid back for theirs. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
15 A person without experience believes every story they hear. But a wise person thinks carefully about each step before taking it. The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
16 A wise person takes danger seriously and stays away from it. But a fool rushes ahead without thinking and feels nothing can hurt them. A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
17 Someone who gets angry fast does foolish things. Someone who plans evil in secret ends up being hated. He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 People without experience end up with foolishness. But wise people wear knowledge like a crown. The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 Ultimately, evil people will have to bow before good people. The wicked will be at the doorstep of the righteous. The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
Kindness to the Poor and Patience with Others
Study note
Several proverbs here deal with how we treat poor and needy people. Looking down on your neighbor is sin, but showing mercy to the poor brings happiness. Whoever oppresses the poor insults their Creator, because God made both the rich and the poor. The fear of the Lord gives strong confidence and is a fountain of life.
20 Nobody wants to be around a poor person, but a rich person has more friends than they can count. The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
21 Looking down on your neighbor is a sin. But being kind to people who are struggling is the road to real happiness. He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
22 People who plan to do evil lose their way. But those who plan to do good find loyalty and faithfulness along the road. Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
23 Hard work always pays off. But sitting around talking about plans only leads to an empty wallet. In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
24 Wealth is a reward that comes to the wise, but the only thing fools produce is more foolishness. The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
25 Someone who tells the truth on the witness stand saves lives, but someone who lies under oath does nothing but spread deception. A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
26 When you honor the Lord, it gives you a deep, steady confidence. And your children will always have a safe place. In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
27 Honoring the Lord is like a spring of fresh water. It keeps you from falling into the traps that lead to death. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
A Wise Ruler and Self-Control
Study note
The chapter ends with proverbs about leadership, patience, and national character. Patience shows great understanding, while a quick temper promotes foolishness. A peaceful heart gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Righteousness lifts up a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
28 A king's greatness shows in having a thriving nation, but a ruler with no people to lead has nothing. In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 A person who is slow to get angry shows real understanding. But someone who loses their temper quickly only spreads more foolishness. He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
30 Inner peace keeps your whole body healthy, but jealousy eats you alive from the inside out. A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
31 Hurting people who are poor is like slapping God in the face. But being kind to those in need is a way of honoring him. He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
32 Wicked people are destroyed by the evil they do. But righteous people have a safe place even when they face death. The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
33 Wisdom makes its home in the mind of someone with understanding. But even among fools it has to make itself heard. Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
34 When a nation does what is right, it rises to greatness. But sin drags any people group into disgrace. Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 A king is pleased by a servant who handles things wisely, but a servant who acts shamefully will face the king's anger. The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.