Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14:1 "Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands."

Proverbs 14:2 "He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but [he that is] perverse in his ways despiseth him."

Proverbs 14:3 "In the mouth of the foolish [is] a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them."

Proverbs 14:4 "Where no oxen [are], the crib [is] clean: but much increase [is] by the strength of the ox."

Proverbs 14:5 "A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies."

Dad is the head of the family, but mother is the heart that glues it together. I believe a family's morals are directed by the mother.  Mother can make it a happy home or a sad home.   You see, it is very important that we walk in our salvation after we receive it. There is someone watching you to see if you live the way you preach or teach.  There is nothing worse to a neighbor than someone who tells lies about them.  

Proverbs 14:8"The wisdom of the prudent [is] to understand his way: but the folly of fools [is] deceit."

Proverbs 14:9 "Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous [there is] favour.

Proverbs 14:10 "The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy."

Proverbs 14:11 "The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish."

Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death."

We see this in our society today. Anything goes is the motto.  Fools ridicule their impending judgment while the wise are promised favor with God.  The wicked are only interested in building big, fine homes here. They are not thinking of the future at all. This life is one that leads to destruction. Things we accumulate here on the earth we leave behind when we die.   

Proverbs 14:14 "The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself."

Backsliding is listening to the lust of our own flesh. We are in a battle of the flesh against the spirit. To walk before God in a pleasing way and be satisfied with our own walk, we must put the flesh under the rule of the spirit.

Proverbs 14:15 "The simple believeth every word: but the prudent [man] looketh well to his going."

Proverbs 14:16 "A wise [man] feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident."

Proverbs 14:17 "[He that is] soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated."

Proverbs 14:18 "The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge."

We see here that a person should not believe every word someone says. We should always check what we are told.  This wise man here fears getting involved with the sins of the world and examines everything he is about to do to see whether it would be pleasing to God or not.  A hot tempered person flies off before all the facts are in and winds up doing foolish things.  The simple are the unlearned whether by choice or by birth. They inherit folly or foolishness because they do not separate good from evil very well. They don't make good decisions and are led away into sin.

Proverbs 14:22 "Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth [shall be] to them that devise good."

Proverbs 14:23 "In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury."

Proverbs 14:24 "The crown of the wise [is] their riches: [but] the foolishness of fools [is] folly."

Proverbs 14:25 "A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful [witness] speaketh lies."

A person who is constantly figuring up ways to do evil is getting further and further away from God all the time.   A person who uses wise judgment is better at business than a fool and sometimes is crowned with riches.  We can see in this someone who witnesses of the Truth (Jesus Christ), brings others to salvation. A true witness is never harmful, but does good.   

Proverbs 14:30 "A sound heart [is] the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Proverbs 14:31 "He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor."

Proverbs 14:32 "The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death."

Envy and strife go hand in hand. Envy eats you up from within and will totally destroy you.   God is the one who makes us rich or poor. We have very little to do with it. It offends the Creator when one neglects the poor, who are part of His creation.    You can see that there is no hope for the one who continues in his wickedness and never turns to Jesus and His righteousness.