Proverbs 28:14 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Happy is the man that feareth always Who, in all times, companies, and conditions, maintains in his mind a holy awe of God, and a reverence for him, his glory and majesty, his wisdom and power, his holiness and justice, his greatness and goodness; that is always afraid of offending him, and incurring his displeasure; that keeps his conscience tender, and has a dread of the appearance of evil; that is always jealous of himself, and distrusts his own sufficiency, and lives in expectation of troubles and changes; so that, when they come, they do not surprise him: he that keeps up such a fear as this in his mind, will live a life of faith, prayer, and watchfulness, and therefore he is happy, blessed, and holy; for he hereby avoids that mischief which befalls fearless and careless sinners, as is expressed in the next clause, and obtains that eternal salvation which they fall short of. But he that hardeneth his heart That goeth on obstinately and securely in sinful courses, casting off all due reverence for God, and just fear of his threatenings and judgments; shall fall into mischief Shall fall into still greater guilt and misery.