King James Version
Proverbs 14:3
3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
Proverbs 14:3 in other versions
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)A fool’s proud talk becomes a rod that beats him, but the words of the wise keep them safe.
Context of Proverbs 14:3
1Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. 2He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. 4Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. 5A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
Read all of Proverbs 14Proverbs 14:3 word by word
בְּֽפִי־אֱ֭וִיל חֹ֣טֶר גַּאֲוָ֑ה וְשִׂפְתֵ֥י חֲ֝כָמִ֗ים תִּשְׁמוּרֵֽם׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Proverbs 14:3
- Proverbs 18:6A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
- Proverbs 21:24Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
- Proverbs 22:8He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
- Proverbs 28:25He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.
- 1 Samuel 2:3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
- Job 5:21Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
- Psalms 12:8The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
- Psalms 31:18Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
- Psalms 52:1Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
- Psalms 57:4My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
- Daniel 7:20And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
- James 3:5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
- 2 Peter 2:18For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
- Revelation 15:5And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
- Proverbs 12:6The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
- Romans 10:9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt 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
King James Version — Public Domain except in the United Kingdom (Crown rights)
Commentaries