The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps.
Parallel translations
- WEB A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
- KJV The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
- NKJV The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.
- NASB The naive believes everything, But the sensible person considers his steps.
- NLT Only simpletons believe everything they’re told! The prudent carefully consider their steps.
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 naive believe anything, but the prudent weigh their steps. Wisdom includes thoughtful discernment, not gullibility.
Overview
This proverb contrasts the simple person, who is credulous and easily misled, with the prudent person, who carefully considers his course. It commends critical, godly discernment over naive acceptance of every claim or influence. Such wisdom guards the believer against deception, in keeping with the call to test all things and hold fast what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Eph 5:17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
- Prov 14:8The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
- 1 Jn 4:1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- Prov 4:26Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
- Prov 27:12The prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
- Eph 4:14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.
- Rom 16:18–19For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
- Prov 22:3The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
- Acts 13:7an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, a man of intelligence, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.
- Amos 5:13Therefore, the prudent keep silent in such times, for the days are evil.
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 14:15 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.