Proverbs 10:14

Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

Proverbs 10:14 (KJV)

Context

This verse belongs to Proverbs 10, where short sayings contrast the wise and the foolish. The wise person values knowledge and stores it carefully. The phrase “lay up” suggests deliberate, ongoing effort, like a farmer storing grain for the future. In ancient Israel, wisdom was practical skill for living well before God.

Meaning

The first half shows that wise men actively gather knowledge and keep it ready for use. They treat it as a treasure that guides their decisions. The second half warns that the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. Foolish speech is careless and undisciplined, and it brings ruin close. The contrast is clear: one path stores life-giving truth, the other speaks words that destroy.

Biblical connections

Proverbs 18:21 directly supports this warning: the tongue can bring death or life. Here, the wise use stored knowledge to speak well, while the foolish ignore wisdom and suffer the results. This verse also echoes the broader biblical theme that wisdom leads to life, but folly leads to ruin.

Application

We can lay up knowledge by reading Scripture, listening to sound teaching, and meditating on what we learn. Then we must guard our speech, thinking before we speak. When we store truth in our hearts, our words are more likely to bring help, not harm. This deliberate effort shapes both our character and our conversations.

Reflection

Do we treat knowledge as a treasure or as something optional? Do our words draw us closer to life or closer to destruction? This verse calls us to be lifelong learners and careful speakers, trusting God to transform both our minds and our mouths.