Proverbs 14:15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:15

Note, 1. It is folly to be credulous, to heed every flying report, to give ear to every man's story, though ever so improbable, to take things upon trust from common fame, to depend upon every man's profession of friendship and give credit to every one that will promise payment; those are simple who thus believe every word, forgetting that all men, in some sense, are liars in comparison with God, all whose words we are to believe with an implicit faith, for he cannot lie. 2. It is wisdom to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:15

The simple believeth every word ,.... Every thing that is said to him every story that is told him, and every promise that is made him; and so is easily imposed upon, and drawn in to his hurt: every word of God, or doctrine of his, ought to be believed; because whatever he says is true, he cannot lie; every word of his is pure, free from all error and falsehood; it is a tried word, and found to bear a faithful testimony, and, if we receive the witness of then, the witness of God is greater;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:8-19

The understanding of one's way I. THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE . ( Proverbs 14:8 .) To note, to observe, to take heed to one's way, is the characteristic of the man who is prudent for time and wise for eternity. And, on the contrary, the very principle of folly is self-deception—to be followed in turn by a terrible awakening to sobriety and recognition of the truth (comp. Psalms 7:15 ; Job 4:8 ). The right way is illustrated both positively and negatively. II. SOME PARTICULAR ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:15

The simple believeth every word. "Simple" ( pethi ) , the credulous person, open to all influences ( Proverbs 1:22 ). The Vulgate has innocens, and the Septuagint ἄκακος ; but the word is best taken in an unfavourable sense. The credulous fool believes all that he hears without proof or examination; having no fixed principles of his own, he is at the mercy of any adviser, and is easily led astray. Ec Proverbs 19:4 , "He that is hasty to give credit is light minded, and he that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:15

Credulity It is the constant habit of religious teachers to encourage faith, and to regard scepticism and unbelief as evil things. Are we, then, to suppose that credulity is meritorious, and that all doubt, inquiry, suspense of mind, and rejection of bold assertions are bad? According to this view, truth would be of no importance. It would be as well to believe error as truth, and to swallow superstition wholesale would be a mark of superior piety. There are not wanting critics who... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 14:15

Proverbs 14:15. The simple A foolish man; believeth every word Is easily deceived with the smooth words and fair pretences of false and deceitful men; but the prudent man The man well instructed and truly wise; looketh well to his goings Either, 1st, To his own goings: he ordereth his conversation and dealings in the world with due circumspection, not considering so much what other men say as what he ought to do. Or, 2d, To the goings of the deceiver: that is, he judges of men’s words... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:1-35

Hidden feelings and motives (14:1-35)Wisdom builds, but folly destroys. People’s actions reveal their attitude to God (14:1-2). The wisdom of their speech and their commitment to hard work are among the things that determine whether they progress or come to ruin (3-5). Those who think they know everything can never become truly wise and therefore can never have right discernment in the moral issues of life (6-8).Good people may prosper and evil people may suffer loss, but outward appearances do... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 14:15

word: or thing. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 14:15

"The simple believeth every word; But the prudent man looketh well to his going."He is a simpleton indeed who believes everything that he hears, or for that matter, everything that he reads in the newspapers. This also applies to many a religious pulpit. It is always the part of a wise man to weigh with the utmost care and attention the messages that are continually being shouted at him from all directions. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 14:15

Proverbs 14:15. The simple believeth every word— Bochart observes well upon this verse, that as prudence, without simplicity, degenerates into craft; so simplicity, without prudence, is no better than downright folly. We must follow our Saviour's counsel, and unite the serpent with the dove. read more

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