He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
Parallel translations
- WEB One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
- BSB He who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.
- 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 thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
- Jer 17:9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
- Job 28:28And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
- Rom 8:7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
- Jas 1:5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
- Mark 7:21–23For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
- 2 Tim 3:15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
- Jas 3:13–18Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
- 2 Kgs 8:13And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The LORD hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.
- Mark 14:27–31And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall 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
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