1A wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her hands. 2He who walks in his uprightness fears Jehovah, but he who is perverse in his ways despises Him. 3In the mouth of the fool is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise shall keep them. 4Where no oxen are, the stall is clean, but much revenue comes by the strength of the ox. 5A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness speaks lies. 6A scorner seeks wisdom, and does not find it; but knowledge is easy to him who understands. 7Go from the presence of a foolish man when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge. 8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit. 9Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is favor. 10The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not share in its joy. 11The house of the wicked shall be overthrown, but the tent of the upright shall flourish. 12There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end of it is the ways of death. 13Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, and the end of that mirth is heaviness. 14The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways, but a good man from himself. 15The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps. 16A wise one fears and departs from evil, but the fool rages and is confident. 17One who is short-tempered acts foolishly, and a man of wicked devices is hated. 18The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19The evil bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. 20The poor is hated even by his own neighbor, but the rich has many friends. 21He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he. 22Do not those who devise evil wander? But mercy and truth shall be to those who devise good. 23In all labor there is profit, but the talk of the lips tends only to poverty. 24The crown of the wise is their wealth; the foolishness of fools is folly. 25A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful witness speaks lies. 26In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence, and His children shall have a place of refuge. 27The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, to avoid the snares of death. 28In the multitude of people is the king's honor, but in the lack of people is the ruin of the prince. 29He who is slow to wrath is of great understanding, but he who is impatient exalts folly. 30A sound heart is life to the flesh, but envy is rottenness to the bones. 31He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who honors Him has mercy upon the needy. 32The wicked is cast down in his wickedness, but the righteous has refuge in his death. 33Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, but that which is within fools is made known. 34Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. 35The king's favor is toward a wise servant, but his wrath is against him who causes shame.
Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary 1 A woman who has no fear of God, who is wilful and wasteful, and indulges her ease, will as certainly ruin her family, as if she plucked her house down.
2 Here are grace and sin in their true colours. Those that despise God's precepts and promises, despise God and all his power and mercy.
3 Pride grows from that root of bitterness which is in the heart. The root must be plucked up, or we cannot conquer this branch. The prudent words of wise men get them out of difficulties.
4 There can be no advantage without something which, though of little moment, will affright the indolent.
5 A conscientious witness will not dare to represent anything otherwise than according to his knowledge.
6 A scorner treats Divine things with contempt. He that feels his ignorance and unworthiness will search the Scriptures in a humble spirit.
7 We discover a wicked man if there is no savour of piety in his discourse.
8 We are travellers, whose concern is, not to spy out wonders, but to get to their journey's end; to understand the rules we are to walk by, also the ends we are to walk toward. The bad man cheats himself, and goes on in his mistake.
9 Foolish and profane men consider sin a mere trifle, to be made light of rather than mourned over. Fools mock at the sin-offering; but those that make light of sin, make light of Christ.
10 We do not know what stings of conscience, or consuming passions, torment the prosperous sinner. Nor does the world know the peace of mind a serious Christian enjoys, even in poverty and sickness.
11 Sin ruins many great families; whilst righteousness often raises and strengthens even mean families.
12 The ways of carelessness, of worldliness, and of sensuality, seem right to those that walk in them; but self-deceivers prove self-destroyers. See the vanity of carnal mirth.
14 Of all sinners backsliders will have the most terror when they reflect on their own ways.
15 Eager readiness to believe what others say, has ever proved mischievous. The whole world was thus ruined at first. The man who is spiritually wise, depends on the Saviour alone for acceptance. He is watchful against the enemies of his salvation, by taking heed to God's word.
16 Holy fear guards against every thing unholy.
17 An angry man is to be pitied as well as blamed; but the revengeful is more hateful.
18 Sin is the shame of sinners; but wisdom is the honour of the wise.
19 Even bad men acknowledge the excellency of God's people.
20 Friendship in the world is governed by self-interest. It is good to have God our Friend; he will not desert us.
21 To despise a man for his employment or appearance is a sin.
22 How wisely those consult their own interest, who not only do good, but devise it!
23 Labour of the head, or of the hand, will turn to some good account. But if men's religion runs all out in talk and noise, they will come to nothing.
24 The riches of men of wisdom and piety enlarge their usefulness.
25 An upright man will venture the displeasure of the greatest, to bring truth to light.
26 Those who fear the Lord so as to obey and serve him, have a strong ground of confidence, and will be preserved. Let us seek to this Fountain of life, that we may escape the snares of death.
28 Let all that wish well to the kingdom of Christ, do what they can, that many may be added to his church.
29 A mild, patient man is one that learns of Christ, who is Wisdom itself. Unbridled passion is folly made known.
30 An upright, contented, and benevolent mind, tends to health.
31 To oppress the poor is to reproach our Creator.
32 The wicked man has his soul forced from him; he dies in his sins, under the guilt and power of them. But godly men, though they have pain and some dread of death, have the blessed hope, which God, who cannot lie, has given them.
33 Wisdom possesses the heart, and thus regulates the affections and tempers.
34 Piety and holiness always promote industry, sobriety, and honesty.
35 The great King who reigns over heaven and earth, will reward faithful servants who honour his gospel by the proper discharge of the duties of their stations: he despises not the services of the lowest.