Wise and Foolish Wives
Proverbs 14:1
Every wise woman builds her house: but the foolish plucks it down with her hands.


The foolish woman does not know that she is plucking down her house; she thinks she is building it up. By unwise energy, by self-assertion, by thoughtless speeches, by words flung like firebrands, she is doing unutterable mischief, not only to herself, but to her husband and family. There are, on the other hand, wise women who are quietly and solidly building the house night and day: they make no demonstration; the last characteristic that could be supposed to attach to them would be that of ostentation; they measure the whole day, they number its hours, they apportion its worth; every effort they make is an effort which has been reasoned out before it was begun; every word is looked at before it is uttered; every company is estimated before it is entrusted with confidence. In this way the wise woman consolidates her house.

(J. Parker, D.D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

WEB: Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.




Traits of Wisdom and Folly
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