"House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD." (Prov 19:14)
What a strange contrast. The word "but" suggests one phrase could be good and the other phrase could be bad. Or one phrase could be better than the other. But having a house and money that is an inheritance passed down doesn't seem bad; and certainly a prudent wife can't be bad since God send that kind of a wife.
So, how should we understand this proverb?
Here is one attempt to explain it.
Receiving an inheritance is a normal human expectation. It is what many parents plan to do – to leave an inheritance behind. That is an act we see often. We call a parent who leaves items or money behind to other parents or loved ones was gracious and kind, but there is no legal responsibility to do so.
Now, getting a prudent wife is different, because this is a divine blessing. It is not as normal as inheritance. It comes from God not with an expectant husband. A Christian husband may desire this kind of wife, but God must send one.
The words of this verse are not so much a contrast as "a one is better than another." In short, if you receive a prudent wife, you are certainly blessed, and if you received in inheritance you are blessed as well. But the prudent wife is a better kind of blessing because it is directly sent from God and not just a dying parent.
(By the way, I got this kind of wife!)
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