Amplified Bible
Proverbs 14:3
3In the mouth of the [arrogant] fool [who rejects God] is a rod for his back, But the lips of the wise [when they speak with godly wisdom] will protect them.
Proverbs 14:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
- New International Version (NIV)A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, But the lips of the wise will preserve them.
Context of Proverbs 14:3
1The wise woman builds her house [on a foundation of godly precepts, and her household thrives], But the foolish one [who lacks spiritual insight] tears it down with her own hands [by ignoring godly principles]. 2He who walks in uprightness [reverently] fears the Lord [and obeys and worships Him with profound respect], But he who is devious in his ways despises Him. In the mouth of the [arrogant] fool [who rejects God] is a rod for his back, But the lips of the wise [when they speak with godly wisdom] will protect them. 4Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, But much revenue [because of good crops] comes by the strength of the ox. 5A faithful and trustworthy witness will not lie, But a false witness speaks lies.
Read all of Proverbs 14Proverbs 14:3 word by word
בְּֽפִי־אֱ֭וִיל חֹ֣טֶר גַּאֲוָ֑ה וְשִׂפְתֵ֥י חֲ֝כָמִ֗ים תִּשְׁמוּרֵֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 14:3
- Proverbs 18:6A fool’s lips bring contention and strife, And his mouth invites a beating.
- Proverbs 21:24“Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names Who acts with overbearing and insolent pride.
- Proverbs 22:8He who sows injustice will reap [a harvest of] trouble, And the rod of his wrath [with which he oppresses others] will fail.
- Proverbs 28:25An arrogant and greedy man stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the Lord will be blessed and prosper.
- 1 Samuel 2:3Do not go on boasting so very proudly, Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; For the Lord is a God of knowledge, And by Him actions are weighed (examined).
- Job 5:21You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, And you will not be afraid of destruction when it comes.
- Psalms 12:8The wicked strut about [in pompous self-importance] on every side, As vileness is exalted and baseness is prized among the sons of men.
- Psalms 31:18Let the lying lips be mute, Which speak insolently and arrogantly against the [consistently] righteous With pride and contempt.
- Psalms 52:1Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endures all day long.
- Psalms 57:4My life is among lions; I must lie among those who breathe out fire— The sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.
- Daniel 7:20and the meaning of the ten horns (kings) that were on its head and the other horn which came up later, and before which three of the horns fell, specifically, that horn which had eyes and a mouth that boasted great things and which looked larger than the others.
- James 3:5In the same sense, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See [by comparison] how great a forest is set on fire by a small spark!
- 2 Peter 2:18For uttering arrogant words of vanity [pompous words disguised to sound scholarly or profound, but meaning nothing and containing no spiritual truth], they beguile and lure using lustful desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error.
- Revelation 15:5After these things I looked, and the temple (sanctuary) of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened,
- Proverbs 12:6The [malevolent] words of the wicked lie in wait for [innocent] blood [to slander], But the mouth of the upright will rescue and protect them.
- Romans 10:9because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Commentaries on Proverbs 14:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3The mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride - The reproofs of such a person are ill-judged and ill-timed, and generally are conveyed in such language as renders them not only ineffectual, but displeasing, and even irritating.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3A rod of pride - i. e., The pride shown in his speech is as a rod with which he strikes down others and himself.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3Verse 3 Pride grows from that root of bitterness which is in the heart. The root must be plucked up, or we cannot conquer this branch. The prudent words of wise men get them out of difficulties.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3People can use a foolish person's words against them.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. rod of pride--that is, the punishment of pride, which they evince by their words. The words of the wise procure good to them.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 14:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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