Proverbs 15:14 (LSB)

Passage

The heart of the one who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 15:12 A scoffer does not love one who reproves him, He will not go to the wise.

Proverbs 15:13 A glad heart makes a face look good, But when the heart is pained, the spirit is broken.

Proverbs 15:14 The heart of the one who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

Proverbs 15:15 All the days of the afflicted are evil, But a good heart has a continual feast.

Proverbs 15:16 Better is a little with the fear of Yahweh Than great treasure and turmoil with it.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "heart", "understanding", "seeks", "knowledge", "mouth", "fools", "feeds", and "folly". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "heart" and "understanding", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "A glad heart makes a face look..." into verse 15's "All the days of the afflicted are...", so "heart" and "understanding" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "heart" and "understanding" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.