Proverbs 28 · Verse 14

Proverbs 28:14

Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
Proverbs 28:14, King James Version

Proverbs 28:14 in other translations

BSBBlessed is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
WEBBlessed is the man who always fears; but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
ASVHappy is the man that feareth alway; But he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
YLTO the happiness of a man fearing continually, And whoso is hardening his heart falleth into evil.
DARBYHappy is the man that feareth always; but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into evil.
BBEHappy is the man in whom is the fear of the Lord at all times; but he whose heart is hard will come into trouble.
WebsterHappy is the man that feareth always: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

What does Proverbs 28:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. feareth--that is, God, and so repents. hardeneth his heart--makes himself insensible to sin, and so will not repent (Pr 14:16; 29:1).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 Happy is the man that feareth alway - That ever carries about with him that reverential and filial fear of God, which will lead him to avoid sin, and labor to do that which is lawful and right in the sight of God his Savior.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
There is a fear which causes happiness. Faith and love will deliver from the fear of eternal misery; but we should always fear offending God, and fear sinning against him.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 28:14 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.

אַשְׁרֵ֣י'ash.Reihow blessed!H835
אָ֭דָם'A.dom[is] a personH120
מְפַחֵ֣דme.fa.Ched[who] fearsH6342
תָּמִ֑ידta.MidcontinuallyH8548
וּמַקְשֶׁ֥הu.mak.Shehand [one who] hardensH7185
לִ֝בּ֗וֹli.Boheart hisH3820
יִפּ֥וֹלyi.Polhe will fallH5307
בְּרָעָֽה\׃be.ra.'Ahin calamityH7451

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

Cross references for Proverbs 28:14

  • Proverbs 23:17

    Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

  • Psalms 2:11

    Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

  • Isaiah 66:2

    For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

  • Romans 11:20

    Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

  • Jeremiah 32:40

    And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

  • Psalms 112:1

    Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

  • 1 Peter 1:17

    And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

  • Hebrews 4:1

    Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

  • Psalms 95:8

    Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

  • Proverbs 29:1

    He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

  • Romans 2:4

    Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

  • Job 9:4

    He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Happy.
23:17; Ps 2:11; 16:8; 112:1; Isa 66:2; Jer 32:40; Ro 11:20; Heb 4:1
1Pe 1:17
but.
29:1; Ex 7:22; 14:23; Job 9:4; Ro 2:4

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

Context

  • Proverbs 28:13

    He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

  • Proverbs 28:14

    Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

  • Proverbs 28:15

    As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

Read all of Proverbs 28

Proverbs 28:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Bienaventurado el hombre que siempre está temeroso: mas el que endurece su corazón, caerá en mal.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Bienheureux l’homme qui craint continuellement; mais celui qui endurcit son cœur tombera dans le malheur.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Glückselig der Mensch, der sich beständig fürchtet; wer aber sein Herz verhärtet, wird ins Unglück fallen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Beatus homo qui semper est pavidus; qui vero mentis est duræ corruet in malum.