10:14
Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:
14a
The wise store up knowledge,
14b but the mouth of the fool invites destruction.
10:14a
The wise store up knowledge: This clause means that wise people accumulate knowledge in their minds or thoughts. It is implied that they do this in order to share it with others at an appropriate time. In contrast to 10:14b, it is also implied that they store up knowledge quietly, without talking unnecessarily.
knowledge: The word knowledge has the broadest meaning of the wisdom words. It can refer to knowing information, but usually it also refers to knowing how to live successfully. In Proverbs, it is almost synonymous with wisdom.
In some languages, knowledge may be more clearly expressed as a verb. For example:
you will learn all you can (Contemporary English Version)
10:14b
but the mouth of the fool invites destruction: The phrase the mouth of the fool is a figure of speech (metonymy). It represents the words/speech of a fool. For fool, see the note on 10:8b.
invites destruction: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “ruin near.” It means that disaster or trouble may happen soon and at any time. Some other ways to translate the meaning of this line are:
but foolish talk will soon destroy you (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
but when fools speak, trouble is not far off (Good News Translation)
-or-
when a fool speaks, ruin is imminent (Revised English Bible)
The Contemporary English Version makes explicit that the fool himself will be destroyed by what he says. But in Hebrew and other versions, the phrase invites destruction does not specify who will experience disaster. Most scholars think that the words of a fool create trouble both for himself and others. So if your language requires you to specify who will experience disaster, you should probably specify both the fool and other people.
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