He who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.
Parallel translations
- WEB One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
- KJV He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
- NKJV He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.
- NASB One who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But one who walks wisely will flee to safety.
- NLT Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.
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
Trusting one's own heart is foolish, but walking in wisdom brings safety. It warns against self-reliance and commends humble dependence on godly wisdom.
Overview
The proverb labels the one who trusts in himself a fool, while the one who walks in wisdom is kept safe. Since the heart is deceitful, self-confidence is a perilous guide. True safety lies in submitting to God's wisdom, supremely revealed in Christ, in whom we are to trust rather than ourselves (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Prov 3:5Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
- Jer 17:9The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
- Job 28:28And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
- Rom 8:7because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
- Jas 1:5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
- Mark 7:21–23For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
- 2 Tim 3:15From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
- Jas 3:13–18Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
- 2 Kgs 8:13“But how could your servant, a mere dog, do such a monstrous thing?” said Hazael. And Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Aram.”
- Mark 14:27–31Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
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 28:26 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.