v. 16. A wise man feareth and departeth from evil, dreading its power and preferring to keep his distance; but the fool rageth, in carnal presumption and insolence, and is confident, foolishly believing himself to be able to avoid the consequences of his sinful folly, rushing wildly into his own destruction. read more
v. 17. He that is soon angry, losing his temper at the slightest provocation, dealeth foolishly, working only folly, with evil consequences to himself; and a man of wicked devices is hated, since he, with his malicious craft and hypocritical subtlety, is even more dangerous than he who flies into a passion at the slightest provocation. read more
(δ) With reference to the relation between the wise and the foolish, the rich and the poor, masters and servantsChap. 141 Woman’s wisdom buildeth her house,but folly teareth it down with its own hands.2 He that walketh uprightly feareth Jehovah,but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his pride,but the lips of the wise preserve them.4 Where there are no oxen the crib is clean,but much increase is by the strength of the... read more
Verse Proverbs 14:7. The sense of this proverb is entirely altered in the Revision. The Authorized reading would make it mean that if a man is perceived to be devoid of knowledge he should be abandoned. The Revised urges attention to the foolish man in order that it may be known that he lacks knowledge. Verse Proverbs 14:9. This proverb is decidedly ambiguous. It may mean that foolish men despise g d t in the sense of holding in contempt the guilty, whereas upright men have grace or favor or... read more
A Collection Of Solomon’s Proverbs (Proverbs 10:1 to Proverbs 29:27 ). Solomon’s presentation of The Book of Proverbs has followed the pattern of much Wisdom literature. This commenced with the initial heading detailing the details of the author and his purpose in writing (Proverbs 1:1-7), continued with a Prologue which laid the foundation for what was to follow (Proverbs 1:8 to Proverbs 9:18), and was then followed by the body of the work introduced by one or more subheadings. In Solomon’s... read more
We Are To Follow The Ways Of The Wise And Shrewd, Not The Ways Of The Foolish (Proverbs 14:7-16 ). The whole emphasis of Proverbs is on following God’s wisdom. By doing so the shrewd man understands his way (Proverbs 14:8); he finds favour with God (Proverbs 14:9); he will flourish whatever his circumstances (Proverbs 14:11), he will avoid final death (Proverbs 14:12); he will be satisfied from what comes upon him (Proverbs 14:14); he looks well to his steps (Proverbs 14:15); and he fears... read more
The Triumph Of Truth Over Falsehood And Of Righteousness Over Unrighteousness (Proverbs 14:17-25 ). The thought of truth against falsehood undergirds this subsection. It commences with the fact that fools deal foolishly and devise evil schemes, and ends with the thought that they even, by their lies, destroy the reliability of the courts. But they do not in the end succeed. For they are hated and in the end have to bow down to the good. They are in contrast with the true. The shrewd are... read more
Proverbs 14. In this, as in each of the preceding chapters in this section, aphorisms on the moral government of the world come first in number. There are rather more in this chapter of a political and social character, while a group that might be called psychological appears for the first time ( e.g. Proverbs 14:10; Proverbs 14:13, and in part Proverbs 14:30). The contrast between wisdom and folly, simplicity and prudence, also yields a fairly numerous group. Proverbs 14:1 . MT cannot be... read more
Feareth; trembleth at God’s judgments, when they are either inflicted or threatened. From evil; from sin, which is the procuring cause of all calamities. Rageth; fretteth against God, or is enraged against his messengers who bring the threatening, or disquieteth himself in vain or, transgresseth, as this verb in its simple form and first conjugation commonly signifies; or, goeth on in sin constantly and resolutely, according to the emphasis which this conjugation commonly adds to the simple... read more
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George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:17
Folly. Wrath betrays us into great extravagances. --- Hateful. Hebrew also, "hateth" folly. Septuagint, "the prudent beareth much," Job v. 2. (Calmet) read more