Proverbs 14:15-16 NIV

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:16

Note, 1. Holy fear is an excellent guard upon every holy thing, and against every thing that is unholy. It is wisdom to depart from evil, from the evil of sin, and thereby from all other evil; and therefore it is wisdom to fear, that is, to be jealous over ourselves with a godly jealousy, to keep up a dread of God's wrath, to be afraid of coming near the borders of sin or dallying with the beginnings of it. A wise man, for fear of harm, keeps out of harm's way, and starts back in a fright when... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:16

A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil ,.... He fears God, and is careful not to offend him; wherefore he departs from sin, stands at a distance from it, abstains from all appearance of it; being influenced by the goodness and grace of God unto him, he fears the Lord and his goodness, and therefore avoids all occasions of sinning against him: his motive is not merely fear of punishment, as Jarchi, but a sense of goodness; and now, as it is through the influence of divine fear that men... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 14:16

A wise man feareth - He can never trust in himself, though he be satisfied from himself. He knows that his suffiency is of God; and he has that fear that causes him to depart from evil, which is a guardian to the love he feels. Love renders him cautious; the other makes him confident. His caution leads him from sin; his confidence leads him to God. 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:16

A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil ( Proverbs 22:3 ). In Proverbs 3:7 we had, "Fear the Lord, and depart from evil;" but here the idea is different. A wise man fears the evil that lurks in everything, and examines and ponders actions by the standard of religion, and is thus saved from many evils which arise from hastiness and inadvertence. The fool rageth, and is confident ( Proverbs 21:24 ; Proverbs 28:26 ). The fool easily falls into a rage, and has no control over... 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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:16

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 14:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:8-19

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:15

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:15

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:16

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

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