Isaiah 5:21
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.
BSB
ASV
Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
KJV
Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
(Verse 21.) Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight. For it is said, you yourselves appear to be wise, who follow human wisdom, not God's: and since you do not receive the power of God and the wisdom of God, you think you are wise (1 Corinthians 1). The Stoics claim that there is a difference between wisdom and prudence, in that wisdom is the knowledge of divine and human things, while prudence pertains only to mortal affairs.
Woe unto therm that are wise in their own eyes,.... And yet betray such stupidity and sottishness, as to call things by their wrong names; and make such a perverse judgment of them, as before described. This is a true description of the Scribes and Pharisees in Christ's time; who said, "dost thou teach us? are we blind also?" Joh 9:34. and prudent in their own sight; being wise above what was written; leaving the word of God, and following the traditions of the elders.
Wo unto them that are wise ... - This is the fifth crime specified. It refers to those who are inflated with a false opinion of their own knowledge, and who are, therefore, self-confident and vain. This is expressly forbidden; Pro 3:7: ‘Be not wise in thine own eyes;’ compare Pro 26:12. In their own eyes - In their own opinion, or estimation. And prudent - Knowing; self-conceited. This was, doubtless, one characteristic of the times of Isaiah.
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.
The walk8
Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.
Through
Proverbs 3:7Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
leads to
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.
Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil.
Through
Romans 12:16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.
leads to
Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
