Proverbs 14:8
in Proverbs 14The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.
KJV
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
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This verse in Proverbs 14
Commentary
7 notes on this verseIs to understand his way - Instead of הבין habin, to understand, הכין hachin, to Direct his way, is found in one MS. It makes a very good sense.
This site's exposition
A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none
on Proverbs 14:6-9
“A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none” because he wants the reputation without the discipline, while “knowledge comes easily to the discerning”. Leaving a foolish man's company is wisdom, since “you will gain no knowledge from his speech”. “Fools mock the making of amends,” treating guilt itself as a joke.
This site's exposition
The wisdom of the prudent
Both lines turn on self-knowledge: the prudent man reads his own road, and folly misleads the very fools who hold it. Adam Clarke notes one Hebrew manuscript that reads to direct his way, a change of a single letter. Either reading puts wisdom in the steering of a life.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"The wisdom of able men will understand the paths of wisdom, but the folly of fools goes in the wrong direction." Prophecy says, "To whom shall I look if not to the man who is gentle and tranquil and who trembles at my words." We have been taught that there are three forms of friendship. The first and best of these is based on virtue, since the love which proceeds from reason is firmly based. The second stands between the others and is based on mutuality. It involves mutual sharing and is beneficial to life.
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 8 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
"The wisdom of the shrewd is to understand his way, and the imprudence of fools is erring." Prudential understanding teaches what is to be carried out, namely every good, according to the way of interior thought and exterior action. God wills that we do all …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The Hebrew counterpart to the Greek “Know thyself.” “The highest wisdom is for a person to understand his own way. The most extreme folly is self-deceit.” The word “deceit” may, however, involve fraud practiced upon others. The folly of fools shows itself then in their ceaseless effort to deceive.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| חָכְמַ֣ת | chakhemat | [the] wisdom of | H2451 → | 153 times |
| עָ֭רוּם | ʾarum | a sensible [person] | H6175 → | 11 times |
| הָבִ֣ין | havin | [is] to understand | H995 → | 170 times |
| דַּרְכּ֑וֹ | darko | own way his | H1870 → | 707 times |
| וְאִוֶּ֖לֶת | veivelet | and [the] foolishness of | H200 → | 25 times |
| כְּסִילִ֣ים | kesilim | fools | H3684 → | 70 times |
| מִרְמָֽה׃ | mirmah | [is] deceit | H4820 → | 39 times |
חָכְמַ֣ת[the] wisdom of
chakhematH2451 →153 times
עָ֭רוּםa sensible [person]
ʾarumH6175 →11 times
הָבִ֣ין[is] to understand
havinH995 →170 times
דַּרְכּ֑וֹown way his
darkoH1870 →707 times
וְאִוֶּ֖לֶתand [the] foolishness of
veiveletH200 →25 times
כְּסִילִ֣יםfools
kesilimH3684 →70 times
מִרְמָֽה׃[is] deceit
mirmahH4820 →39 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
James 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
it leads to
- Galatians 5:23
gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
- James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
- Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
- Galatians 5:23
Through
Ephesians 5:17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
it leads to
- Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of…
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
- Colossians 1:9
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and…
- Ephesians 5:15
Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
- Romans 12:2
Where this verse is studied
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 8; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 2; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.