Proverbs 14 · Verse 3

Proverbs 14:3

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
Proverbs 14:3, King James Version

Proverbs 14:3 in other translations

BSBThe proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
WEBThe fool’s talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
ASVIn the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
YLTIn the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, And the lips of the wise preserve them.
DARBYIn the fool's mouth is a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
BBEIn the mouth of the foolish man is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will keep them safe.
WebsterIn the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

What does Proverbs 14:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. rod of pride--that is, the punishment of pride, which they evince by their words. The words of the wise procure good to them.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 The mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride - The reproofs of such a person are ill-judged and ill-timed, and generally are conveyed in such language as renders them not only ineffectual, but displeasing, and even irritating.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Pride grows from that root of bitterness which is in the heart. The root must be plucked up, or we cannot conquer this branch. The prudent words of wise men get them out of difficulties.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 14:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

בְּֽפִי\־be.fi-[is] in [the] mouth ofH6310
אֱ֭וִיל'E.vila foolH191
חֹ֣טֶרCho.tera shoot ofH2415
גַּאֲוָ֑הga.'a.VahprideH1346
וְשִׂפְתֵ֥יve.sif.Teiand [the] lips ofH8193
חֲ֝כָמִ֗יםcha.kha.Mimwise [people]H2450
תִּשְׁמוּרֵֽם\׃tish.mu.Remit preserves themH8104

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 14:3

  • Proverbs 12:6

    The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

  • James 3:5-6

    Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

  • Revelation 12:11

    And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

  • Romans 10:9-10

    That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

  • Revelation 3:10

    Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

  • Proverbs 22:8

    He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

  • Proverbs 21:24

    Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

  • Proverbs 18:6

    A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

  • Psalms 52:1-2

    To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

  • Psalms 12:3

    The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

  • Proverbs 28:25

    He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.

  • Psalms 57:4

    My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the mouth.
18:6; 21:24; 22:8; 28:25; 1Sa 2:3; Job 5:21; Ps 12:3; 31:18; 52:1,2
Ps 57:4; Da 7:20; Jas 3:5,6; 2Pe 2:18; Re 15:5,6
but.
12:6; Ro 10:9,10; Re 3:10; 12:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 14:2

    He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

  • Proverbs 14:3

    In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

  • Proverbs 14:4

    Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Read all of Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		En la boca del necio está la vara de la soberbia: mas los labios de los sabios los guardarán.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Dans la bouche du fou est la verge d’orgueil, mais les lèvres des sages les gardent.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Im Munde des Narren ist eine Gerte des Hochmuts; aber die Lippen der Weisen, sie bewahren sie.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		In ore stulti virga superbiæ; labia autem sapientium custodiunt eos.