Proverbs 14:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.

NIV: The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs.

NASB: One with a wayward heart will have his fill of his own ways, But a good person will be satisfied with his.

CSB: The disloyal one will get what his conduct deserves, and a good one, what his deeds deserve.

NLT: Backsliders get what they deserve; good people receive their reward.

KJV: The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

NKJV: The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied from above.

A common English expression claims "what goes around comes around." The meaning of that expression is the same as the lesson of this proverb. The life a person leads determines what results he can expect to experience. It is true that good people can experience myriad difficult circumstances and even persecution (Psalm 9:9–10), and evil people can sometimes appear successful (Psalm 73:2–3). Both are temporary situations, however. Natural cause-and-effect usually brings negative consequences to evildoers and benefits to those who do good. Eternity, without exception, will reward good and punish evil (Revelation 20:11–15).

The phrase "backslider in heart" literally means "a turned-aside heart," or "a perverse understanding." This is someone who has rejected God's wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 3:5) in favor of their own preferences (Proverbs 14:11–12). As the book of Proverbs often notes, ignoring God increases risks in earthly life (Proverbs 13:21) and guarantees death in eternity (Proverbs 10:29; 11:4).

Galatians 6:7–9 tells us: "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Isaiah 3:9 addresses the backsliders in Judah and pronounces woe to them, asserting: "they have brought evil on themselves." But the following verse pronounces blessing on the faithful: "Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds" (Isaiah 3:10).

Proverbs 14:11–14 is a brief section which contrasts the righteous and the wicked. Solomon takes these moments to emphasize the final destinies of the evil and the upright. Those who reject God will come to an inglorious end, but those who submit to His truth will enjoy a glorious destiny. The wicked will get what he deserves, having built a life of sin, but the upright will be rewarded for walking in righteousness. Points made here echo those seen in Proverbs 12:7–15.

This continues a series of literal "proverbs:" short statements of general-case wisdom. The first ten verses of this chapter contrast positive and negative traits related to work ethic, self-control, and seeking wisdom. Then come several verses contrasting the fate of the righteous with that of the wicked. The rest of this passage provides statements on a broad range of subjects.

Proverbs 14 continues King Solomon's wise sayings. In this chapter he discusses a variety of topics such as wisdom and folly, honesty and dishonesty, righteousness and evil, national security and national disgrace, personal security and destruction, the fear of the Lord, generosity, and wise servanthood. This series of astute comments will continue for several more chapters.

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.