Proverbs 10:14 kjv
Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
Proverbs 10:14 nkjv
Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
Proverbs 10:14 niv
The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.
Proverbs 10:14 esv
The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
Proverbs 10:14 nlt
Wise people treasure knowledge,
but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.
Proverbs 10 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 2:1-5 | My son, if you receive my words... and apply your heart... then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. | Seeking knowledge like hidden treasure. |
| Prov 15:7 | The lips of the wise spread knowledge. | Stored knowledge is dispersed effectively. |
| Prov 18:15 | An intelligent heart acquires knowledge. | Emphasis on the heart (inner being) gaining knowledge. |
| Prov 20:15 | There is gold and many pearls, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. | Value of knowledge in speech. |
| Eccl 7:12 | For wisdom is a protection even as money is a protection, but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it. | Wisdom/knowledge offers preservation. |
| Jas 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God. | Source of true knowledge/wisdom. |
| Col 2:3 | In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. | Christ as the ultimate source and storehouse of truth. |
| Ps 119:11 | I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. | Directly links 'storing' with spiritual obedience. |
| Prov 12:23 | A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness. | Prudent not only store but know when not to speak. |
| Prov 13:3 | Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. | Directly links uncontrolled speech to ruin. |
| Prov 21:23 | Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from trouble. | Self-preservation through careful speech. |
| Prov 10:8 | The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. | Same chapter parallel; babbling leads to ruin. |
| Prov 10:10 | The one who winks maliciously causes grief, and a babbling fool will come to ruin. | Reinforces link between foolishness and ruin. |
| Prov 13:16 | Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool lays open his folly. | Fool reveals folly, contrasting wise who store knowledge. |
| Prov 14:3 | The mouth of a fool is a rod for his back. | Words become an instrument of self-harm for the fool. |
| Prov 18:7 | A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. | Strong direct parallel: fool's speech brings ruin. |
| Prov 17:28 | Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is thought to be discerning. | Highlights the virtue of silence, even for fools. |
| Matt 12:37 | For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. | New Testament emphasis on the consequences of words. |
| Jas 3:5-6 | How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. | Illustrates the destructive power of uncontrolled speech. |
| Prov 6:2 | If you are snared by the words of your mouth, caught by the words of your mouth. | Warns against being trapped by one's own words. |
| Prov 19:1 | Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. | Integrity vs. crooked speech defining folly. |
| Prov 29:11 | A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. | Wise restraint contrasts with foolish impulsiveness. |
| 1 Tim 6:4-5 | ...caring for nothing but controversies and word battles that produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people. | NT example of destructive talk causing strife. |
Proverbs 10 verses
Proverbs 10 14 Meaning
Wise individuals diligently accumulate and internalize sound knowledge and discernment, preparing for future use and application. In contrast, the unrestrained and thoughtless speech of a fool, driven by arrogance and spiritual ignorance, inevitably brings swift ruin and destruction upon themselves and often others around them.
Proverbs 10 14 Context
Proverbs chapter 10 marks a transition in the book from the longer poetic instructions of the earlier chapters (1-9) to a collection of concise, often antithetical proverbs. These two-line sayings primarily contrast the righteous and the wicked, or more broadly, the wise and the fool, highlighting their differing characters, actions, and ultimate destinies. Verse 14 perfectly exemplifies this pattern by presenting a sharp contrast between the disciplined internal accumulation of knowledge by the wise and the outward verbal impulsiveness of the fool, leading to inevitable destruction. These proverbs served as practical, moral, and spiritual guidelines for daily life in ancient Israel, emphasizing that behavior—especially speech—has direct consequences, aligning with the divinely ordered reality where wisdom leads to life and folly to ruin.
Proverbs 10 14 Word analysis
- חֲכָמִים (chakhamim): This Hebrew term, meaning "wise people," denotes individuals who possess not merely intellectual knowledge but also practical skill, moral insight, and the ability to live according to God's established order. Their wisdom is spiritual and experiential, leading to sound judgment.
- יִצְפְּנוּ (yitspnu): Translated "store up" or "treasure," this verb implies an intentional act of gathering, guarding, and preserving something precious for future use. It suggests internalizing knowledge deeply rather than merely acquiring superficial facts.
- דָּעַת (da'at): This word signifies "knowledge," "understanding," or "discernment." In biblical context, it often refers to an intimate, relational knowledge, frequently connected with knowing God Himself or understanding His ways (e.g., "the knowledge of the Holy One" - Prov 9:10). It's not just information but insight and comprehension.
- וּפִי (u-pi): "and the mouth of."
Peh(mouth) functions here as a metonymy for speech or verbal utterance. It is the primary instrument through which one's inner character is revealed. - אֱוִיל (evil): This particular Hebrew term for "fool" (different from k'sil or nabal) describes one who is dull, stubborn, obstinate, and spiritually ignorant. An
evilfool is often proud, resists instruction, and lacks sound judgment, actively opposing wisdom and divine truth. - מְחִתָּה (mekhittah): Meaning "ruin," "destruction," or "terror." It signifies a catastrophic collapse, often due to an internal breakdown or a sudden, devastating outcome.
- קְרוֹבָה (qerovah): "is near" or "is close at hand." This indicates the immediacy and inevitability of the destruction that stems directly from the fool's nature and speech. The ruin is not distant but an impending consequence.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- Wise people store up knowledge: This phrase emphasizes the internal and deliberate nature of true wisdom. Wise individuals are discerning and disciplined, choosing to absorb and retain valuable truth, both spiritual and practical. This stored knowledge informs their actions and, importantly, their words, making them prudent speakers.
- But the mouth of a fool brings ruin near: This phrase presents a stark contrast, highlighting the outward, unrestrained, and ultimately destructive nature of folly. The fool’s verbal output is chaotic, impulsive, and reveals a lack of internalized wisdom, leading directly and swiftly to their downfall.
Proverbs 10 14 Bonus section
- The "storing up" of knowledge by the wise implies a readiness not always to speak, but to discern when to speak, what to speak, and how. This is a characteristic of prudence (Prov 12:23).
- The
evilfool, by speaking freely from their ignorance and stubbornness, exposes themselves to consequences. Their ruin is often self-inflicted because their own words lay bare their folly and guide their disastrous decisions. - This proverb underlines the dynamic principle in Proverbs that actions (especially speech) are not isolated events but have predictable and often swift repercussions in God's ordered world.
- The contrast here emphasizes internal virtue (wisdom) versus external vice (foolish, unrestrained speech), reinforcing that what one says is a reflection of what is inside the heart (Matt 12:34).
Proverbs 10 14 Commentary
Proverbs 10:14 offers a foundational principle of wisdom literature: the profound connection between inner character, discerning speech, and inevitable outcomes. The wise person is characterized by discipline in acquiring and preserving genuine knowledge and spiritual understanding. This "storing up" is not hoarding, but an internalization that shapes thought, action, and particularly, prudent communication. Their speech is measured, thoughtful, and effective, as it flows from a deep reservoir of insight. Conversely, the "evil" fool operates from an empty, arrogant, or spiritually resistant heart. Their mouth, therefore, becomes a direct conduit for this inner void, unleashing rash, divisive, or simply ignorant words. Such unchecked verbal expressions are depicted not as minor mistakes but as active agents of mekhittah—calamitous ruin—that is qerovah, or close at hand. This teaches that true wisdom prioritizes substance over sound, reflecting a disciplined inner life that prevents destructive external expression, thereby leading to flourishing rather than devastation.