Proverbs 14:11

14:11 The household ¹  of the wicked will be destroyed,

but the tent ²  of the upright will flourish.

Proverbs 24:3

24:3 By ³  wisdom a house is built, ⁴ 

and through understanding it is established;

Proverbs 8:2

8:2 At the top ⁵  of the elevated places along the way,

at the intersection ⁶  of the paths she takes her stand;

Proverbs 15:6

15:6 In the house ⁷  of the righteous is abundant wealth, ⁸ 

but the income of the wicked brings trouble. ⁹ 

Proverbs 15:25

15:25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud, ¹⁰ 

but he maintains the boundaries of the widow. ¹¹ 

Proverbs 19:14

19:14 A house and wealth are inherited from parents, ¹² 

but a prudent wife ¹³  is from the Lord.

[14:11]  ¹ tn Heb “house.” The term “house” is a metonymy of subject, referring to their contents: families and family life.

[14:11]  ² tn The term “tent” is a metonymy here referring to the contents of the tent: families.

[24:3]  ³ tn The preposition בְּ (bet, “by; through”) in these two lines indicates means.

[24:3]  ⁴ sn The twentieth saying, vv. 3-4, concerns the use of wisdom for domestic enterprises. In Prov 9:1 wisdom was personified as a woman who builds a house; but here the emphasis is primarily on the building – it is a sign of security and prosperity (C. H. Toy, Proverbs [ICC], 442). One could still make a secondary application from this line for a household or “family” (cf. NCV, which sees this as a reference to the family).

[8:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “head.” The word רֹאשׁ (ro’sh, “head”) refers to the highest area or most important place in the elevated area. The contrast with chapter 7 is striking. There the wayward woman lurked at the corners in the street at night; here wisdom is at the highest point in the open places in view of all.

[8:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “at the house of the paths.” The “house” is not literal here, but refers to where the paths meet (cf. ASV, NIV), that is, the “crossroads” (so NAB, NRSV, NLT).

[15:6]  ⁷ tn The term בֵּית (bet, “house”) functions as an adverbial accusative of location.

[15:6]  ⁸ sn The Hebrew noun חֹסֶן (khosen) means “wealth; treasure.” Prosperity is the reward for righteousness. This is true only in so far as a proverb can be carried in its application, allowing for exceptions. The Greek text for this verse has no reference for wealth, but talks about amassing righteousness.

[15:6]  ⁹ tn Heb “will be troubled.” The function of the Niphal participle may be understood in two ways: (1) substantival use: abstract noun meaning “disturbance, calamity” (BDB 747 s.v. עָכַר) or passive noun meaning “thing troubled,” or (2) verbal use: “will be troubled” (HALOT 824 s.v. עכר nif).

[15:25]  ⁹ sn The “proud” have to be understood here in contrast to the widow, and their “house” has to be interpreted in contrast to the widow’s territory. The implication may be that the “proud” make their gain from the needy, and so God will set the balance right.

[15:25]  ¹⁰ sn The Lord administers justice in his time. The Lord champions the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the needy. These people were often the prey of the proud, who would take and devour their houses and lands (e.g., 1 Kgs 21; Prov 16:19; Isa 5:8-10).

[19:14]  ¹¹ tn Heb “inheritance of fathers” (so KJV, ASV, NASB).

[19:14]  ¹² sn This statement describes a wife who has a skillful use of knowledge and discretion that proves to be successful. This contrasts with the preceding verse. The proverb is not concerned about unhappy marriages or bad wives (both of which exist); it simply affirms that when a marriage works out well one should credit it as a gift from God.