A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man with discernment sees through him.
Parallel translations
- WEB The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding sees through him.
- KJV The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
- NKJV The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding searches him out.
- NASB The rich person is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding sees through him.
- NLT Rich people may think they are wise, but a poor person with discernment can see right through them.
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
A rich man may think himself wise, but a discerning poor man sees through his pretense. It warns that wealth can blind one to true self-knowledge.
Overview
The proverb exposes how riches breed self-conceit, while a poor person of understanding perceives the rich man's true character. Worldly advantage is no guarantee of wisdom and can foster delusion. This humbling truth echoes the gospel call to despair of self-confidence and find true wisdom in Christ, who exalts the humble (James 4:6).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Prov 18:17The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
- Prov 26:16The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
- Eccl 9:15–17Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
- 1 Cor 3:18–19Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.
- Rom 12:16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.
- Luke 16:13–14No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
- Prov 23:4Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
- Prov 19:1Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.
- Prov 18:11A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination.
- Rom 11:25I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
- Isa 10:13–14For he says: ‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, for I am clever. I have removed the boundaries of nations and plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their rulers.
- Prov 26:5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
- Job 32:9It is not only the old who are wise, or the elderly who understand justice.
- Ezek 28:3–5Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you!
- Isa 5:21Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.
- 1 Tim 6:17Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 28:11 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.