Proverbs 14:3

The rod of pride is in the mouth of a fool; the lips of wise men keep them (or but the lips of the wise keep them safe).

Wycliffe Modern Spelling

In The King James Version

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

In Context

2A man going in rightful way, and dreading God, is despised of him that goeth in the way of evil fame. (A person who doeth right, and feareth God or and revereth God, is despised by him who goeth in evil ways.)

4Where oxen be not, the cratch is void (or the stall is empty); but where full many corns appear, there the strength of the ox is [made] open.

Read all of Proverbs 14

Cross References

Job 5:21Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of an evil tongue, and thou shalt not dread mis-ease, either wretchedness, when it cometh.

Psalms 31:18guileful lips be made dumb. That speak wickedness against a just man; in pride, and in mis-using/in pride, and in abusing. (and let deceitful lips be made dumb. Yea, those who speak wickedness against the righteous; in pride, and in mis-using, or in pride, and in abusing.)

Psalms 57:4and delivered my soul from the midst of whelps of lions; I slept troubled, or disturbed. The sons of men, the teeth of them be armours and arrows; and their tongue is a sharp sword. (and saved me from the midst of those ravenous lions. Yea, those sons of men, whose teeth be like arms, or spears, and arrows; and whose tongues be like sharp swords.)

Proverbs 13:3He that keepeth his mouth, keepeth his soul; but he that is unwary to speak, shall feel evils. (He who guardeth his mouth, keepeth his soul safe; but he who is careless when he speaketh, shall experience evil.)

Proverbs 18:7The mouth of a fool is [the] defouling of him; and his lips be the falling of his soul.

Proverbs 22:8He that soweth wickedness shall reap evils; and the rod of his ire shall be ended.

Matthew Henry on Proverbs 14:3

2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord : but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. Here are, 1. Grace and sin in their true colours. Grace reigning is a reverence of God, and gives honour to him who is infinitely great and high, and to whom all honour is due, than which what is more becoming or should be more pleasing to the rational creature? Sin reigning is no less than a contempt of God. In this, more than in any thing, sin appears exceedingly sinful, that it despises God, whom angels… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Proverbs 14:3