Proverbs 14:7-9 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:7

See here, 1. How we may discern a fool and discover him, a wicked man, for he is a foolish man. If we perceive not in him the lips of knowledge, if we find there is no relish or savour of piety in his discourse, that his communication is all corrupt and corrupting, and nothing in it good and to the use of edifying, we may conclude the treasure is bad. 2. How we must decline such a one and depart from him: Go from his presence, for thou perceivest there is no good to be gotten by his company,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:8

See here, 1. The good conduct of a wise and good man; he manages himself well. It is not the wisdom of the learned, which consists only in speculation, that is here recommended, but the wisdom of the prudent, which is practical, and is of use to direct our counsels and actions. Christian prudence consists in a right understanding of our way; for we are travellers, whose concern it is, not to spy wonders, but to get forward towards their journey's end. It is to understand our own way, not to be... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:9

See here, 1. How wicked people are hardened in their wickedness: they make a mock at sin. They make a laughing matter of the sins of others, making themselves and their companions merry with that for which they should mourn, and they make a light matter of their own sins, both when they are tempted to sin and when they have committed it; they call evil good and good evil (Isa. 5:20), turn it off with a jest, rush into sin (Jer. 8:6) and say they shall have peace though they go on. They care... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:7

Go from the presence of a foolish man ,.... A wicked one; avoid him, shun his company, depart from him, have no fellowship with him, it, being dangerous, infectious, and hurtful; when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge ; when it is observed that his lips pour out foolishness, what is corrupt and unsavoury, unchaste and filthy; what does not minister grace to the hearers, nor is for the use of edifying, nor any ways improving in useful knowledge, but all the reverse: the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:8

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way ,.... The way of his calling, in which he should abide, and how to manage it in the best manner; the way of his duty, that he may walk inoffensively both towards God and men; and the way of life and salvation, which is by Jesus Christ, which to understand and to walk in is the highest wisdom and prudence; but the folly of fools is deceit : or "the wisdom of fools", which the opposition requires, and is meant, and is what the Holy... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:9

Fools make a mock at sin ,.... At sinful actions, their own or others; they make light of them, a jest of them, call evil good, and good evil; take pleasure in doing them themselves, and in those that do them; yea, sport themselves with the mischief that arises from them unto others; they make a mock at reproofs for them, and scoff at those that instruct and rebuke them; and laugh at a future state, and an awful judgment they are warned of, and in a scoffing manner say, "where is the promise... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 14:7

When thou perceivest not - the lips of knowledge - Instead of דעת daath , knowledge, several MSS. have שקר sheker , a lie. How this reading came I cannot conjecture. The meaning of the adage is plain: Never associate with a vain, empty fellow, when thou perceivest he can neither convey nor receive instruction. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 14:8

Is to understand his way - Instead of הבין habin , to understand, הכין hachin , to Direct his way, is found in one MS. It makes a very good sense. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 14:9

Fools make a mock at sin - And only fools would do so. But he that makes a sport of sinning, will find it no sport to suffer the vengeance of an eternal fire. Some learned men by their criticisms have brought this verse into embarrassments, out of which they were not able to extricate it. I believe we shall not come much nearer the sense than our present version does. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:1-7

Traits of wisdom and folly I. FEMININE WISDOM . ( Proverbs 14:1 .) 1 . Its peculiar scope is the home. Women are physically and morally constructed with a view to the stationary life and settled pursuits of home. Its comfort, the strength of the race, the well being of society, are rooted, more than in any other human means, in the character, the principle, the love and truth of the wife and mother. 2 . The absence of it is one of the commonest causes of domestic misery.... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 14:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 14:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 14:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:1-7

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