Proverbs 14:35 - Exposition

The king's favour is toward a wise servant; servant that dealeth wisely (Revised Version). Thus Joseph was advanced to the highest post in Egypt, owing to the wisdom which he displayed; so, too, in the case of Daniel (comp. Matthew 24:45 , Matthew 24:47 ). But his wrath is against him that causeth shame; literally, he that doeth shamefully shall be (the object of) his wrath. The Vulgate translates, Iracundiam ejus inutilis sustinebit ; the Septuagint makes the second clause parallel to the first, "An intelligent servant is acceptable to the king, and by his expertness ( εὐτοροφίᾳ ) he removeth disgrace." Then is added, before the first verse of the next chapter, a paragraph which looks like an explanation of the present clause, or an introduction to verse 1 of ch. 15.: "Anger destroyeth even the prudent."