A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Parallel translations
- WEB A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
- BSB The prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
- 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 22:3A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
- Prov 18:10The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
- Heb 11:7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
- 2 Pet 3:10–14But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
- Exod 9:20–21He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:
- 2 Pet 3:7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
- Matt 3:7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
- Isa 26:20–21Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
- Ps 57:1–3Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
- Heb 6:18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
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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 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
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