Proverbs 10:14

Pro 10:14 Wise [men] lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish [is] near destruction.

Ver. 14. Wise men lay up knowledge.] To know when to speak, and when to be silent. It is a great skill to be able "to time a word," {Isa 50:4} to set it upon the wheels. {Pro 25:11} "How forcible are right words!" {Job 6:25}

But the mouth of the foolish.] An open mouth is a purgatory to the master. Nemo stultus tacere potest, saith Solon. A fool tells all, saith Solomon. {Ecc 10:12-14} And Ut quisque est dissolutissimae vitae, ita est solutissimae linguae, saith Seneca. A fool’s bolt is soon shot, and as soon retorted ofttimes upon himself.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Pro_10:14

Wise men lay up knowledge.

Experience kept for use

Another brief definition of wisdom. Many get knowledge, and let it go as fast as they get it. They put their winnings into a bag with holes. The part of wisdom is to treasure up experience, and hold it ready for use in the time and place of need. Everything may be turned to account. Even losses may be converted into gains. Let nothing trickle out and flow away useless. None of the wisdom comes for nothing, either to old or young. Our Father in heaven gives us the best kind; and the best kind is that which is bought. The saddest thing is when people are always paying, and never possessing. The cleverest people are in many cases the least successful. A man of moderate gifts, but steadfast acquisitiveness, lays up more than a man of the brightest genius, whether the treasure sought be earthly substance or heavenly wisdom. Men, looking on the outward appearance, make great mistakes in judging of men. Those who give out little noise may have laid up much wisdom. (W. Arnot, D. D.)

Wise men lay up knowledge

In Eastern countries men lay up garments, and pride themselves in the number of their suits of apparel. In our land men lay up money. But this is not wisdom. In Egypt Joseph laid up corn for the day of famine; and in Syria men lay up water for the summer in cisterns under their houses. This is wisdom; but still it is not the wisdom of which Solomon speaks. The astronomer lays up the knowledge of the stars; and the botanist lays up the knowledge of plants and flowers. This is wisdom, but it is not that of which the text speaks. The knowledge that is best for us is the knowledge of God Himself; and though the knowledge of His works is good, the knowledge of Himself is far better. It is only this knowledge that can make you happy, or bring blessing to your soul. A poor woman, that could not read a word, once said to me, You see Im no scholar; but Im Christs scholar, and that will do. Yes, it was enough; for it made her wise unto salvation. She was one of the wise women that lay up knowledge. This is the knowledge which you must have; you will find it in the Bible; and the Holy Spirit is most willing to become your teacher. (Christian Treasury.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Observe, 1. It is the wisdom of the wise that they treasure up a stock of useful knowledge, which will be their preservation: Wisdom is therefore found in their lips (Pro 10:13), because it is laid up in their hearts, out of which store, like the good householder, they bring things new and old. Whatever knowledge may be at any time useful to us we must lay it up, because we know not but some time or other we may have occasion for it. We must continue laying up as long as we live; and be sure to lay it up safely, that it may not be to seek when we want it. 2. It is the folly of fools that they lay up mischief in their hearts, which is ready to them in all they say, and works terror and destruction both to others and to themselves. They love devouring words (Psa 52:4), and these come uppermost. Their mouth is near destruction, having the sharp arrows of bitter words always at hand to throw about.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

lay up knowledge--that is, as treasures for good use.

mouth . . . destruction--or, "as to the mouth," &c., destruction is near; they expose themselves to evil by prating.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 14. Wise men lay up knowledge] They keep secret every thing that has a tendency to disturb domestic or public peace; but the foolish man blabs all out, and produces much mischief. Think much, speak little, and always think before you speak. This will promote your own peace and that of your neighbour.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(14) The mouth of the foolish is near destruction—i.e., is a near, ever-threatening calamity; one never knows what awkward or dangerous thing he will not say next: whereas wise men store up knowledge, and bring it forth as it is wanted (Mat_13:52).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

14. near destruction] Rather, is a near, or imminent (R.V. a present) destruction: “it is like a house ready to fall at any moment.” The antithesis is between wise men who treasure their wisdom to be used as occasion serves, and a fool who blurts out his folly, and may at any moment bring upon himself and others its disastrous consequences. Comp. Pro_12:23.

The A.V. follows LXX., ἐγγίζει συντριβῇ; and Vulg., confusioni proximum est.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Wise men lay up knowledge,.... Which they get by reading, prayer, meditation, hearing the word of God, and conversation with good men: this they lay up in their hearts, minds, and memories, that they may not forget it, and as a rich treasure they highly value it; that they may bring it forth at proper times, and on proper occasions, for the benefit of others; see Mat 12:35; or hide (f) it; conceal it; do not boast and brag of it, as foolish men do;

but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction: who rashly and unguardedly utters things which bring swift and sudden destruction on himself and others; or terror and consternation, as the word (g) also signifies. The Vulgate Latin version is, "but the mouth of the foolish is near to confusion"; he boasts of his knowledge, betrays his ignorance, and so brings himself to shame and confusion.

(f) "abscondent", Pagninus, Montanus; "abscondunt", V. L. "occultant", Michaelis. (g) "terrorem accersit", Tigurine version; "consternatio propinqua", Cocceius; "terror", Vatablus, Michaelis.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Lay up - The point of the maxim is that the wise man reserves what he has to say for the right time, place, and persons (compare Mat 7:6), as contrasted with the foolish, ever giving immediate utterance to what destroys himself and others.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Confusion. He speaks inconsiderately, and involves himself in continual dangers, while the wise are cautious in their speech.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Wise men lay up, to wit, in their minds and memories, to be brought forth thence upon fit occasions,

knowledge; whereby they may be enabled to speak both what and when it is seasonable, for their own or others’ good.

The mouth of the foolish is near destruction; fools are more forward to lay out than to lay up, and for want of knowledge speak much and foolishly, whereby they frequently bring destruction upon themselves

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

14. Lay up — Treasures up, in the memory, useful knowledge. Compare Pro_10:8. Is near destruction — Destruction is near by, imminent. The sense is, that knowledge treasured up by the wise preserves from calamity; but folly, which is pre-eminently shown by the mouth, plunges one speedily into it. Miller carries forward the verb, lay up, and renders the last clause, “but the mouth of the fool (stores up) early rain.” On first clause compare Mat_12:35; Mat_13:52; Psa_119:11.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Lay up knowledge; like a treasure, for use on proper occasions. (Pro_12:23 Pro_14:33; comp. Mat_7:6 Mat_13:52) Is near destruction. "Near" may be an adjective, equivalent to "imminent," "ever-threatening." The versions are proximum est and eggizei . The foolish are always uttering carelessly what may bring trouble on themselves and others.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Lay up - In their minds, to be brought forth upon fit occasions. Knowledge - Whereby they may be enabled to speak both what, and when it is seasonable. But - Fools are more forward to lay out than to lay up, and for want of knowledge speak much and foolishly, whereby they frequently bring destruction upon themselves.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

14 Wise men store up knowledge;

But the mouth of the fool is threatening destruction.

Ewald, Bertheau, Hitzig, Oetinger: "The mouth of the fool blunders out, and is as the sudden falling in of a house which one cannot escape from." But since מחתּה is a favourite Mishle-word to denote the effect and issue of that which is dangerous and destructive, so the sense is perhaps further to be extended: the mouth of the fool is for himself (Pro 13:3) and others a near, i.e., an always threatening and unexpectedly occurring calamity; unexpectedly, because suddenly he blunders out with his inconsiderate shame-bringing talk, so that such a fool's mouth is to every one a praesens periculum. As to יצפּנוּ, it is worthy of remark that in the Beduin, Arab. dfn, fut. i, signifies to be still, to be thoughtful, to be absorbed in oneself (vid., Wetstein on Job, p. 281). According to Codd. and editions, in this correct, וּפי־ is to be written instead of אויל uwpiy; vid., Baer's Torath Emeth, p. 40.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

Did not Solomon prove his title as a wise man by his diligence in laying up knowledge? (Ecc 12:9-10 .) No wonder that wisdom is found in the lips, where "out of the abundance of the good treasure of the heart the mouth speaketh."†1 It is "the householder" storing his mind not for selfish gratification, but for liberal and useful distribution. (Mat 13:52 .) If the hoarding wisdom be cultivated in youth (Pro 6:6 ; Pro 18:1, Pro 18:15 ), what a store of valuable treasure would be laid up! yet all little enough to meet the coming trial. Let every day add something to the stock. So inexhaustible is the treasure, that no doubt, difficulty, temptation, or duty, will be found unprovided for!

Wise men lay up knowledge, for their own use — Fools lay it out. For want of sound wisdom, they only open their mouths for their own mischief, in profane rebellion (Exo 5:2 . Psa 12:3-5 ; Psa 52:1-5 ); groveling selfishness (1Sa 25:10-11, 1Sa 25:38 ); ungodly worldliness (Luk 12:18-20 ); or hateful pride (Act 12:21-23 ) — near to destruction. (Pro 12:13 ; Pro 13:3 ; Pro 18:7 . Ecc 10:12-13 .) How near — who can say? — But if they be not "taken away with a stroke" without remedy (Job 36:18 ); they only stand out as monuments of the "much long-suffering of God, enduring the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction." (Rom 9:22 .)

Footnotes:

†1 Mat 12:34. Jerome mentions of his friend Nepotian, that, ’by daily reading and meditating in the sacred volume, he had made his soul a library of Christ.’ — Letter to Nepotian.

Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

v. 14. Wise men lay up knowledge, like treasures which are to be put to a good use; but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction, because his foolish suggestions are always breaking forth and bringing misfortune to himself and others, like the sudden collapse of a house.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

the mouth of a fool

"Mouth" represents what a person says. AT: "the words from a foolish person" (See: Metonymy)

his fortified city

This represents wealth as a safe place. AT: "his safety" (See: Metaphor)

translationWords

wise

know

fool

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

Wise men store up knowledge They guard it in their heart so that they do not forget it.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.