Proverbs 14:24

The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly. THE CROWN OF THE WISE (IS) THEIR RICHES; (BUT) THE FOOLISHNESS OF FOOLS (IS) FOLLY. Not riches, but "wisdom, gives a crown of glory" (). "The prudent are crowned with knowledge," not with riches (). Therefore the sense is, Wisdom (the opposite of 'folly'), being "the crown of the wise," constitutes their true 'riches,' and results in the heavenly riches; "but the foolishness of fools" is not "riches" to them, as 'the wise man's crown' of wisdom is to him, but is and continues "folly" - i:e., emptiness-neither an ornamental 'crown' nor enriching wisdom....

Verse Proverbs 14:24. BUT _THE FOOLISHNESS OF FOOLS_ IS _FOLLY._] The _Targum_ reads, _The honour of fools is folly_. The fool, from his foolishness, produces acts of folly. This appears to be the meaning....

“The crown,” i. e., the glory of the wise man constitutes his wealth. He alone is truly rich even as he alone (compare Proverbs 14:18 note) is truly king. The seeming tautology of the second clause is really its point. Turn “the foolishness of fools” as you will, it comes back to “foolishness” at last....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 14:1 EVERY WISE WOMAN BUILDETH HER HOUSE. Wise women order well their household matters and their families; they have an important influence, and exercise it beneficially. Γυναικὸς ἐσθλῆς ἐστὶ σώζειν οἰκίαν_._ "A good wife is the saving of a house." The versions render as above. A different pointing of the word translated "wise" (_chakhmoth_)_ _will give "wisdom" (_chokhmoth_)_, _which it seems best to read here, as the parallel to the abstract term "folly" in the second member. So we have, "Wisdom hath builded her house" (Proverbs 9:1; comp. Proverbs 1:20). Thus: "The wi

THE CROWN OF THE WISE [IS] THEIR RICHES,.... Riches being used by them to increase and improve their knowledge and wisdom, and for the good of men, are an honour to them, and give them credit and reputation among men of sense and goodness; see Ecclesiastes 7:11; [BUT] THE FOOLISHNESS OF FOOLS [IS] FOLLY; mere folly, extreme folly, just the same as it was; riches make them never the wiser; yea, their folly is oftentimes made more manifest through the ill use they make of their riches; spending them in the gratification of their sinful lusts; and making no use of them for their own improvement in knowledge, or for the good of their fellow creatures. The Targum is, "the glory of fools is their folly;'' and that is no other than their shame, and in which they glory; such fools are wicked men....

CHAPTER 14 THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH: THE RICH AND THE POOR The contrast now concerns the wise and the foolish, the rich and the poor. Let us see some of these contrasts. “In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise shall preserve them” Proverbs 14:3. The foolish shoots forth his foolishness like a branch. Separation from the foolish man is commanded in the seventh verse. The wise cannot have fellowship with the foolish, as the believer is not to be yoked to the unbeliever. Fools make a mock at sin Proverbs 14:9). The word “sin” in the original means “trespass offering.” That is exactly what the foolish man does, including the religious fool; he denies both sin and the blessed provision God has made to deliver from the guilt and power of sin. But among the righteous, says

PROVERBS 14. In this, as in each of the preceding Chapter s in this section, aphorisms on the moral government of the world come first in number. There are rather more in this chapter of a political and social character, while a group that might be called psychological appears for the first time (_e.g._ Proverbs 14:10; Proverbs 14:13, and in part Proverbs 14:30). The contrast between wisdom and folly, simplicity and prudence, also yields a fairly numerous group. PROVERBS 14:1. MT cannot be translated. Proverbs 14:1 a is p

_The crown of the wise_ i.e. the wisdom which is their crown (Proverbs 14:18) is (constitutes) their riches. It is at once an ornament and a thing of price; whereas the folly of fools is, and always remains (only) folly. It is possible, however, to render, with R.V. marg., _Their riches is a crown unto the wise_, gracing and graced by the wearer; but the folly of fools no wealth can ennoble; it is still only folly....

BUT THE FOOLISHNESS OF FOOLS IS FOLLY— _But their fortunes are a curse to fools._ Houbigant; thus preserving the opposition with the preceding clause....

TEXT Proverbs 14:13-24 13. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of mirth is heaviness. 14. The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways; And a good man shall be satisfied from himself. 15. The simple believeth every word; But the prudent man looketh well to his going. 16. A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident. 17. He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated. 18. The simple inherit folly; But the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19. The evil bow down before the good; And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous. 20. The poor is hated even of his own neighbor; But the rich hath many friends. 21....