Proverbs 10:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

NIV: The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

NASB: Wise people store up knowledge, But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.

CSB: The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool hastens destruction.

NLT: Wise people treasure knowledge, but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.

KJV: Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

NKJV: Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

A key aspect of wisdom is preparation: the pursuit of what's needed before hardship or crisis are at hand (Proverbs 4:20–21; 10:5). Those who sincerely seek truth and wisdom will seek to understand God's will (Proverbs 1:7) so they are ready for life's challenges (Hebrews 5:14; 1 Corinthians 10:13). Further, the person with a storehouse of wisdom has good advice to give others when the occasion calls for it (Proverbs 11:14).

James 1:5 promises that God will supply wisdom to those who ask in faith for it so they may understand the purpose of their trials. This makes humility a key aspect of "storing up" wisdom, which can elude a person even if their education is admirable. Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 1:20: "Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world?" Although Jesus' disciples lacked a formal education, they were wise, because they knew Christ and preached the gospel clearly. When they represented Christ at a meeting of the Jewish council, the council members were astonished, because they realized the disciples were "uneducated, common men," but "they recognized that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13).

Those who prefer to spend their efforts resisting wisdom (Proverbs 10:17) or hating those who offer it (Proverbs 9:7–8) tend to arrogantly chatter while bringing their own downfall even closer.

Proverbs 10:11–32 contrasts the righteous and the wicked, focusing on their different speech patterns, their different lifestyles, their different attitudes, and their different destinies. Verses 21 through 27 are especially focused on the different results which can be expected from pursuing godliness, versus pursuing sin.

This chapter begins 375 "proverbs," which are general-case lessons or observations. These wise remarks continue the discussion of wisdom and wickedness begun in chapters 1—9. Most of the verses in chapter 10 contain a sharp contrast, with the conjunction "but" separating the lines. Often, the subject changes from verse to verse. The contrasting subjects include sons, treasure, work ethic, reputation, relationships, success, and speech.

In Proverbs 7—9 Solomon contrasts wisdom and wickedness in the symbolic persons of Lady Wisdom and Woman Folly. He calls upon his sons, or students, to choose wisdom, and he points out the benefits of choosing wisdom and the disastrous results of choosing wickedness. Chapter 10 presents vivid contrasts between wisdom and wickedness in many of life's settings. These comparisons continue into chapter 11.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.