Charles Ellicott Commentary Proverbs 14

Every wise woman buildeth her house.— This should be rendered, “The wisdom (literally, wisdoms; see above on Proverbs 1:20; chokhmôth should probably be read here, as there, not chokhmôth) of women builds (for each) her house, but (their) folly plucks it down,” etc.

Buildeth her house. —Each person and each good work throughout the household grows, as it were, under her fostering hand .

He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord. —Rather, He who fears the Lord walketh in his uprightness. . And likewise, he that despiseth Him is perverse in his ways. The fear of God and its absence are clearly seen in the outward conduct.

In the mouth of the foolish (self-willed) is a rod of pride.— He suffers for his ill-judged sayings, or he punishes others with them. But this does not agree so well with what follows.

But the lips of the wise shall preserve them (the wise) from the difficulties into which the foolish fall because of their rash talk.

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean...—A proverb which may be taken in various ways. Some have seen in it an exhortation to kindness towards animals in consideration of their great usefulness. Others, that labor has its disagreeable aspect, but also brings its reward, whether material prosperity (“much increase”) or a more enduring reward. .

A scorner seeks wisdom, and finds it not. —Because God resists the proud (1 Peter 5:5), and no one can give wisdom except He who alone has it (1 Corinthians 2:11); but He teaches the one who fears the Lord (Psalms 25:11).