Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
Parallel translations
- WEB Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.
- KJV Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
- NKJV Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool lays open his folly.
- NASB Every prudent person acts with knowledge, But a fool displays foolishness.
- NLT Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.
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
The prudent act on knowledge, but fools put their folly on display. Wisdom shows itself in careful action.
Overview
A wise person weighs matters and acts deliberately from understanding, whereas the fool blurts out and exposes his foolishness for all to see. The contrast is between thoughtful self-governance and reckless self-exposure. Such prudence reflects the wisdom from above that is peaceable and considerate (James 3:17).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Prov 15:2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
- Prov 12:22–23Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.
- Eph 5:17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
- Isa 52:13Behold, My Servant will prosper; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
- Eccl 10:3Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
- Rom 16:19Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.
- Ps 112:5It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely, whose affairs are guided by justice.
- 1 Sam 25:10–11But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters.
- Prov 21:24Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man—of him who acts with excessive pride.
- 1 Cor 14:20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
- Matt 10:16Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
- 1 Sam 25:25My lord should pay no attention to this scoundrel Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means Fool, and folly accompanies him. I, your servant, did not see my lord’s young men whom you sent.
- 1 Sam 25:17Now consider carefully what you must do, because disaster looms over our master and all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that nobody can speak to him!”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 13:16 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.