Proverbs 14:8-9 NKJV

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 14:8

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 14:8

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 14:8

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way. The wisdom of the prudent is shown by his considering whither his actions lead, the motives from which they spring, the results that attend them. As the apostle enjoins ( Ephesians 5:15 ), "See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise." Or the clause may be taken as enjoining a wise choice in life, a selection of such a calling or occupation as best suits one's capabilities, station, and opportunities. The folly of fools is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:8

Understanding our way A man may be "prudent," he may be clever, learned, astute; yet he may miss his way, he may lose his life, he may prove to be a failure. The wisdom of the prudent, that which makes prudence or ability really valuable, that which constitutes its virtue, is the practical understanding of life, the knowledge which enables a man to take the right path and keep it, the discretion which chooses the line of a true success and maintains it to the end. It is to perceive and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:8-19

The understanding of one's way I. THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE . ( Proverbs 14:8 .) To note, to observe, to take heed to one's way, is the characteristic of the man who is prudent for time and wise for eternity. And, on the contrary, the very principle of folly is self-deception—to be followed in turn by a terrible awakening to sobriety and recognition of the truth (comp. Psalms 7:15 ; Job 4:8 ). The right way is illustrated both positively and negatively. II. SOME PARTICULAR ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:9

Fools make a mock at sin. So the Vulgate (comp. Proverbs 10:23 ). Fools, wicked men, commit sin lightly and cheerfully, give specious names to grievous transgressions, pass over rebuke with a joke, encourage others in crime by their easy way of viewing it. But in the original the verb is in the singular number, while the noun is plural, and the clause could be translated as in the Authorized Version only with the notion that the number of the verb is altered in order to individualize the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:9

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

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

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

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:8-19

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:9

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