Proverbs 14:16
14 The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways, but a good man is rewarded for his ways.
15 The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps.
A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a devious man is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.
- KJV
- A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
- WEB
- A wise man fears and shuns evil, but the fool is hot headed and reckless.
- ASV
- A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.
- DARBY
- A wise [man] feareth and departeth from evil; but the foolish is overbearing and confident.
- BLB
- A wise one fears and turns aside from evil, and a fool is transgressing and is confident.
- ÅB
- Den vise frykter og holder seg fra det onde, men dåren er overmodig og trygg.
- OTB
- En klok person er forsiktig og unngår det onde, men en dåre er hensynsløs og overmodig.
- B1930
- Den vise frykter og holder sig fra det onde, men dåren er overmodig og trygg.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 22:3
The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
Read in contextProverbs 3:7
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
Read in context1 Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from every form of evil.
Read in contextProverbs 29:9
If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution.
Read in contextGenesis 42:18
and on the third day he said to them, “I fear God. So do this and you will live:
Read in contextProverbs 28:14
Blessed is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
Read in contextJob 31:21–23
if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate,
Read in context1 Kings 20:10–11
Then Ben-hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if enough dust remains of Samaria for each of my men to have a handful.”
Read in context