Wisdom's Blueprint: Illuminating Paths
Proverbs 14:1-35
Reminder: Pray to God to set your heart right as you engage His word. The text you are about to study was not written to you but is written for you. So, before applying we must ask the following questions:
- What did it mean to the original reader or original audience?
READ THE SCRIPTURE(Multiple times & translations and notice the words that standout)
#Anger
Biblegateway (NIV) (My choice of all-round site. Great app, better on computers or on phone)
StepBible (ESV) (Great on phone or computer with good resources.)
Hashtags:
#Wisdom
Themes
Wisdom vs Folly
The Consequences of Righteousness and Wickedness
The Power of Speech
Integrity and Deceit
Understanding vs Ignorance
Topics
Wisdom and Folly
Righteousness and Wickedness
Power and Impact of Words
Honesty and Deception
Understanding and Ignorance
Potential Sermon Titles: ??
Intro Questions to get us thinking:
- When building a house of sand, wooden blocks, Lincoln logs or cards, how did you make sure it stood up? How much easier was it to tear down? Why is that?
- If forced to choose, which lot in life would you prefer and why: (a) Farmer without oxen to plow? (b) Museum curator without artifacts to display? (c) King without subjects to rule? (d) Love life without bitterness or joy?
ESV Text with Highlights
#God
#People = The wise, The foolish, The righteous, The wicked, The mocker
#Time =
#Place =
#Obedient faith =
#Sin =
#Key Idea =
#People = The wise, The foolish, The righteous, The wicked, The mocker
#Time =
#Place =
#Obedient faith =
#Sin =
#Key Idea =
Proverbs 14 ESV
The wisest of women builds her house,
but folly with her own hands tears it down.
2 Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord,
but he who is devious in his ways despises him.
3 By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back,
but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness does not lie,
but a false witness breathes out lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
7 Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
but the folly of fools is deceiving.
9 Fools mock at the guilt offering,
but the upright enjoy acceptance.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and the end of joy may be grief.
14 The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways,
and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
15 The simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
16 One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.
17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
but the rich has many friends.
21 Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
22 Do they not go astray who devise evil?
Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness.
23 In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the folly of fools brings folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,
and his children will have a refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.
28 In a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
but without people a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30 A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh,
but envy makes the bones rot.
31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker,
but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
32 The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
but the righteous finds refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor,
but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
but folly with her own hands tears it down.
2 Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord,
but he who is devious in his ways despises him.
3 By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back,
but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness does not lie,
but a false witness breathes out lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
7 Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
but the folly of fools is deceiving.
9 Fools mock at the guilt offering,
but the upright enjoy acceptance.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and the end of joy may be grief.
14 The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways,
and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
15 The simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
16 One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.
17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
but the rich has many friends.
21 Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
22 Do they not go astray who devise evil?
Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness.
23 In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the folly of fools brings folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,
and his children will have a refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.
28 In a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
but without people a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30 A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh,
but envy makes the bones rot.
31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker,
but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
32 The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
but the righteous finds refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor,
but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
OBSERVATIONS(Reflect on the topic and build the concept the writer is trying to communicate to the original audience)
ebible (NLT) (Best for having Bible sections divided by "pericope" or sections by thought)
Bible Project (NLT) (Helpful videos and instructions for the bigger picture)
Thematic Bible(Books and Chapters Structure)
Bible Hub = Outline, Themes, Topics, People, Locations, and Questions
Wisdom instructs about the fear of the Lord.
THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH (14:1–9): The wise build up their houses; the wicked tear them down.
TRUE JOY (14:10–13): Laughter conceals a heavy heart.
PERSONALITY PATTERNS (14:14–21): The prudent carefully consider what they do while fools rush in without a thought.
GENERAL DOS AND DON’TS (14:22–28): Plan for good, work hard, be truthful, and fear the Lord.
ANGER AND ENVY (14:29–33): If you control your anger, you have great understanding. If you are jealous, your life rots away.
LIFTING UP KINGDOM AND KING (14:34–35): Godliness exalts a nation, and a king rejoices in it.
STUDY RESOURCES (This takes some work and here are more resources than you can go through completely)
StudyLight (New Revised Standard) (Great site with commentaries by Burton Coffman)
NETBible (New English Translation) (Great for original text information)
BibleHub (HCSB) (Good on computer or app/phone with lots of well-organized information.)
BlueLetter (King James Version) (A variety of resources and good on Phones / better on Computers)
Bible.com (Lexham English Bible)
Biblia.com (New Century Version) (Great on a computer especially if you have a logos account)
Literal Word (New American Standard Bible) (Works well on a smartphone or computer + for searching for words like a printed concordance)
KnowingJesus (Phone / Computer and great for comparing translations)
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- How might verse 1 serve as a good "subtitle" for this chapter? Compare 9:1-12, for the house built by wisdom. What building blocks of wisdom do you see here in chapter 14 that would help ensure that one's "house” flourishes? What stumbling blocks of the foolish would you avoid for that same reason?
- Some proverbs arrest our attention due to a figure of speech that is ambiguous. Such is the case with verse 4. What could it mean: (a) Growth (corporate and spiritual) is never neat, but often messy like an ox? (b) Take care of your means of production if you want a rich harvest? (c) Be kind to animals and they'll be kind to you?
- What does the "fear of the Lord" imply for living today (vv. 2, 26, 27)? What will future retribution for present inequality look like (vv. 14,18,19, 24, 32)?
- How should we relate to our neighbors in need (vv. 21, 31)? What happens if we follow this advice? How does a shabby treatment of the unfortunate reflect on one's relationship with God? How does the good we do for the poor honor God and exalt one's nation as morally righteous? Why is that?
APPLICATION(God wants us all to arrive at action, life-changing faith)
The Message (MSG) (An easy-to-read paraphrase that helps some with application)
Heartlight (Great for practical application of scripture)
- Comparing your life to a "house," what condition is it in: (a) Crumblings foundation, but good soil? (b) Good foundation, but tacky additions? (c) Fancy exterior, but shabby interior? (d) Under-priced fixer-upper? (e) Well lived in? (f) Ready for sale?
- If you had a choice of the following, which would you like to work on and why? (a) Strong back? (b) Wise lips? (c) Rich friends? (d) Caring heart? (e) Discerning heart? (f) Quick temper? (g) King's delight? (h) Nation's righteousness? How can your group study of Proverbs help you in this one area?
- To what extent do you and your church practice shunning the "fool," as in verse 7? How do you avoid worshipping, socializing or working with a "fool"?
- Where do you find security: Job? Money? Home? Family? Friends? Possessions? What could happen to each of these in time? What SO alone provides true security (v. 26)? Have you found your security there? Why or why not?
- Are you experiencing "body life," or “bone rot” (v. 30) these days? What causes the two conditions? What cures them? Where does the heart-felt peace come from?
- Is yours an exalted nation, or a disgraced one (v. 34)? Why do you think so? What is your contribution or solution to that?
- If, after making a bad decision, someone quoted verse 12 to you, how would you feel? What is a proper context for "the way leading to death" (see 7:21-27)?
- When have you had laughter and joy turn to grief and sadness (v. 13; see Mt 5:4)?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
#Anger
- Proverbs 6:34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
- Proverbs 11:23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
- Proverbs 12:16 A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
- 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 14:29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
- Proverbs 14:35 The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
- Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
- Proverbs 15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
- Proverbs 16:14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
- Proverbs 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
- Proverbs 19:11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
- Proverbs 19:12 The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
- Proverbs 19:19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.
- Proverbs 20:2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
- Proverbs 21:14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
- Proverbs 21:19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
- Proverbs 21:24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
- Proverbs 22:8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
- Proverbs 22:24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
- Proverbs 25:23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
- Proverbs 27:3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.
- Proverbs 27:4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
- Proverbs 29:8 Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.
- Proverbs 29:22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
- Proverbs 30:33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
#envy #covetousness
- Proverbs 3:31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
- Proverbs 6:34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
- Proverbs 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
- Proverbs 21:25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. 26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
- Proverbs 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but bethou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
- Proverbs 24:1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
- Proverbs 24:19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked:
- Proverbs 27:4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
- Proverbs 28:16 The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
#Foolishness
#Fools
#Folly
- Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
- Proverbs 1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
- Proverbs 1:32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
- Proverbs 7:7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
- Proverbs 7:20 With her much fair speech [a flattering woman] she caused him [a simple youth, devoid of understanding] to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. 22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
- Proverbs 8:5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
- Proverbs 9:5 Come, eat of my [Wisdom’s] bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. 6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
- Proverbs 9:7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
- Proverbs 9:13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. 14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call passengers who go right on their ways: 16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
- Proverbs 10:10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.
- Proverbs 10:18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
- Proverbs 10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
- Proverbs 10:23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
- Proverbs 12:1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
- Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
- Proverbs 12:16 A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
- Proverbs 12:23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
- Proverbs 13:19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
- Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
- Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
- Proverbs 14:3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
- Proverbs 14:6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
- Proverbs 14:7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
- 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 favor.
- Proverbs 14:15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
- 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.
- Proverbs 14:24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
- Proverbs 14:29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalts folly.
- Proverbs 14:33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
- Proverbs 17:7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
- Proverbs 17:10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than a hundred stripes into a fool.
- Proverbs 17:12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
- Proverbs 17:16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
- Proverbs 17:21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
- Proverbs 17:25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
- Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
- Proverbs 18:2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
- Proverbs 18:6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
- Proverbs 18:7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
- Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
- Proverbs 19:1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
- Proverbs 19:3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
- Proverbs 19:10 Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
- Proverbs 19:13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
- Proverbs 19:29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
- Proverbs 20:3 It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
- Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
- Proverbs 23:9 Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
- Proverbs 24:7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
- Proverbs 24:9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
- Proverbs 26:1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool. 2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. 3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
- Proverbs 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
- Proverbs 26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
- Proverbs 26:6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
- Proverbs 26:7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
- Proverbs 26:8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honor to a fool.
- Proverbs 26:9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools.
- Proverbs 26:10 The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
- Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
- Proverbs 26:12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
- Proverbs 27:3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.
- Proverbs 27:22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
- Proverbs 29:20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
- Proverbs 30:21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
- Proverbs 30:22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
- Proverbs 30:32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
Other Resources:
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Proverbs 14 - Wisdom, Patience, & the Fear of God
Discovery Bible Study
Articles
Devotions
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Please let me know if you find any broken links or corrections that need to be made. Thank you for the help to make this most useful.
Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.