New English Translation
Proverbs 14:3
3In the speech of a fool is a rod for his back, but the words of the wise 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
1Every wise woman builds her household, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands. 2The one who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, but the one who is perverted in his ways despises him. In the speech of a fool is a rod for his back, but the words of the wise protect them. 4Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is clean, but an abundant harvest is produced by strong oxen. 5A truthful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out 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 18:6The lips of a fool enter into strife, and his mouth invites a flogging.
- Proverbs 21:24A proud and arrogant person, whose name is “Scoffer,” acts with overbearing pride.
- Proverbs 22:8The one who sows iniquity will reap trouble, and the rod of his fury will end.
- Proverbs 28:25The greedy person stirs up dissension, but the one who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
- 1 Samuel 2:3Don’t keep speaking so arrogantly, letting proud talk come out of your mouth! For the Lord is a God who knows; he evaluates what people do.
- Job 5:21You will be protected from malicious gossip, and will not be afraid of the destruction when it comes.
- Psalms 12:8for the wicked seem to be everywhere, when people promote evil.
- Psalms 31:18May lying lips be silenced – lips that speak defiantly against the innocent with arrogance and contempt!
- Psalms 52:1Why do you boast about your evil plans, O powerful man? God’s loyal love protects me all day long!
- Psalms 57:4I am surrounded by lions; I lie down among those who want to devour me; men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are a sharp sword.
- Daniel 7:20I also wanted to know the meaning of the ten horns on its head, and of that other horn which came up and before which three others fell. This was the horn that had eyes and a mouth speaking arrogant things, whose appearance was more formidable than the others.
- James 3:5So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze.
- 2 Peter 2:18For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error.
- Revelation 15:5After these things I looked, and the temple (the tent of the testimony) was opened in heaven,
- Proverbs 12:6The words of the wicked lie in wait to shed innocent blood, but the words of the upright will deliver them.
- Romans 10:9because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord 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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
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