The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well 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.
- BSB The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches 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 don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
- Prov 14:8The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
- 1 Jn 4:1Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- Prov 4:26Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
- Prov 27:12A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
- Eph 4:14that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;
- Rom 16:18–19For those who are such don’t serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the innocent.
- Prov 22:3A prudent man sees danger, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
- Acts 13:7who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.
- Amos 5:13Therefore a prudent person keeps silent in such a 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.