Proverbs
Chapter 14
Wisdom builds her house; foolishness destroys it with her own hands.
Upright living is fearing the Lord, but he who is dishonest in his ways scorns him.
From the fool’s mouth comes the rod of his pride, but the wise man’s lips protect him.
Where there are no oxen, there’s no wheat; with the oxen’s strength, there’s an abundant harvest.
The honest witness does not lie; the dishonest witness breathes lies.
The mocker searches for wisdom futilely; knowledge comes naturally to the wise man.
Stay away from the fool, for you will find no wisdom in his words.
The wisdom of a cautious man lies in controlling his actions, but the foolishness of fools is filled with dishonesty.
Fools never apologize, while goodwill exists among honest people.
The heart knows its own sorrow; no outsider can partake in its happiness.
The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will stand firm.
To one, his way seems right, but ultimately, it results in death.
The heart experiences pain amid laughter, and happiness often ends in sorrow.
The reckless man faces the consequences of his actions; the good man will receive a reward.
The fool believes everything he’s told, while the wise man watches his step.
The wise man fears and avoids evil, but the fool gets close and feels secure.
The angry man does foolish things; the cunning man makes himself hated.
Foolishness is the inheritance of fools; the wise choose wisdom as their crown.
The wicked shall kneel before the good, and the godless before the gates of the virtuous.
The poor man is disliked even by his neighbors, while the rich man has many friends.
A sinner is someone who looks down on his neighbor; happy is the one who shows pity to the poor.
Does evil plotting not lead to ruin? Do goodness and sincerity not belong to those devoted to good?
Hard work brings profit, but idleness leads to misfortune.
Wealth is the wise man’s crown, foolishness the diadem of fools.
A truthful witness saves lives; those who lie will be lost.
There is strong security in fearing the Lord; His children find shelter in Him.
The fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain that helps us escape the traps of death.
Many people bring honor to a king; without subjects, a prince is doomed.
The wise man is slow to anger, while the impatient one shows foolishness.
A peaceful heart is the source of life for the body, but passions are a cancer in the bones.
Oppressing the weak dishonors their creator; he is honored by those who show compassion for the needy.
The wrongdoer is defeated by his own evil, while the righteous man feels secure until death.
Wisdom dwells in the heart of the discerning; who else perceives her among fools?
Virtue elevates a nation; sin tarnishes a people.
The clever servant gains the king’s favor, but the fool must endure his anger.
Commentaries
Second Collection – Proverbs of Solomon.
The core and oldest part of the book begins with the title “Proverbs of Solomon.” In reality, scholars place this section shortly after the reign of Josiah (640-609 BC). Babylon had already entered Jewish territory, and violence increased daily. During this crisis, a group of wise men compiled a series of sayings and proverbs, some moral and others legislative, aiming to encourage the community and teach that the righteous—those who believe in the Lord and truly love him—will not suffer violence or death. Throughout this section, wisdom calls for conversion and justice, as well as the experience of poverty.
Second Collection.
The chapter starts by mentioning the wise woman, whose influence in the home is positive. Keep in mind that this was a time when women were largely confined to the house and under their husbands’ control in every aspect. A wise woman here would be understood as someone who properly fulfills her role—focused on the home, serving her husband, and caring for her children. Today, we must recognize that women also have critical roles in society, and feminine wisdom goes far beyond the simple boundaries of the home; we need to rely on it to envision a new family and a new society.
Second Collection.
The righteousness of human beings is directly connected to God: acting righteously shows respect for him. However, this respect for God must go through the only possible mediator, which is one’s neighbor. If relationships with one’s neighbor—symbolized by the image of the faithful witness or the false witness—are correct, then the relationship with God is accurate and respectful.
Second Collection.
Discernment is one of the most essential ways to gain wisdom. The image of the “path” here represents that process, which is very useful and necessary for living well. Choosing the right path and living with honor and dignity should be the goal of every person.
Second Collection.
Several ways of being and living are contrasted: the foolish and the good, the ingenious and the wise, the judicious and the ridiculous, the quick-witted and the thoughtful, the evil and the good; all are “satisfied,” eating and living from what they are. The ideal presented to the disciple of wisdom is to recognize the proper path. Today more than ever, it is essential to offer children and young people—the seeds of future society—with life choices based on educational proposals rooted in honest and attainable values. We cannot ignore anti-values, but rather educate ourselves to confront and overcome them, especially those that stem from commerce and economic profit, which we often see in the mass media.
Second Collection.
Verse 20 is a harsh proverb, but unfortunately, it can be verified in many settings. We must not ignore or overlook that solidarity and simple sharing are more evident among the poor. However, even among the poor, there are very harsh, inhumane situations—just look at armed conflicts. The following verses are a call to discern how to find the path of righteousness and fidelity to God among the poor. Blessed are those who show mercy to the poor (21, cf. 14:31).
Second Collection.
Once again, respect for the Lord is seen as the key to a happy life, but not only for those who are respectful; their attitude becomes a blessing for others, and the first place where this blessing is felt is the home, like a source of life. It should be remembered that respect for the Lord is always shown through how we treat others: those who exploit their neighbors (31), those who are envious (30), in short, those who do not practice justice, do not truly respect the Lord.