The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
Parallel translations
- WEB A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
- BSB The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps.
- 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 5:17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
- Prov 14:8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
- 1 Jn 4:1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
- Prov 4:26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
- Prov 27:12A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
- Eph 4:14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
- Rom 16:18–19For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
- Prov 22:3A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
- Acts 13:7Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
- Amos 5:13Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.
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.