The prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
Parallel translations
- WEB A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
- KJV A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
- NKJV A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished.
- NASB A prudent person sees evil and hides himself; But the naive proceed, and pay the penalty.
- NLT A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
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 foresee danger and avoid it, while the naive walk blindly into harm. It commends discernment that takes wise precautions.
Overview
Nearly identical to Proverbs 22:3, this saying contrasts the foresight of the prudent with the heedlessness of the simple who suffer for their carelessness. Wisdom anticipates consequences and acts to avoid ruin. Ultimately, true refuge from judgment is found in fleeing to Christ, the only sure shelter from coming wrath (Hebrews 6:18).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Prov 22:3The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
- Prov 18:10The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
- Heb 11:7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
- 2 Pet 3:10–14But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.
- Exod 9:20–21Those among Pharaoh’s officials who feared the word of the LORD hurried to bring their servants and livestock to shelter,
- 2 Pet 3:7And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
- Matt 3:7But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
- Isa 26:20–21Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourselves a little while until the wrath has passed.
- Ps 57:1–3For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul into the cave. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in You my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of Your wings I will take shelter until the danger has passed.
- Heb 6:18Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 27:12 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.