When pride comes, then comes dishonor; But with the humble there is wisdom.
Parallel translations
- WEB When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom.
- KJV When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
- BSB When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.
- NKJV When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.
- NLT Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Pride leads to disgrace, but humility brings wisdom. An inflated view of self sets us up for a fall, while lowliness opens the door to true insight.
Overview
This proverb links pride with the shame that inevitably follows it, and humility with the wisdom God grants the lowly. Scripture consistently teaches that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Christ Himself models the humility that God exalts, and the path of wisdom begins with humbly submitting to Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Prov 29:23A man’s pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honor.
- Prov 16:18–19Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
- Prov 15:33The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.
- Luke 18:14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Prov 18:12Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
- Prov 3:34–35Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.
- 1 Cor 8:1–2Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
- Luke 14:8–11“When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast, don’t sit in the best seat, since perhaps someone more honorable than you might be invited by him,
- Dan 4:30–32The king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 11:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.