O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
Parallel translations
- WEB You simple, understand prudence. You fools, be of an understanding heart.
- BSB O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
- NKJV O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart.
- NASB “You naive ones, understand prudence; And, you fools, understand wisdom!
- NLT You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding.
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
Wisdom urges the naive and foolish to gain prudence and understanding. Even the simple are invited to grow wise.
Overview
She calls the simple to learn prudence and fools to acquire a discerning heart. Far from despising the ignorant, wisdom invites them to change and grow. The verse offers hope that anyone willing to listen can move from folly toward true understanding.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Prov 1:22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
- Rev 3:17–18Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
- Prov 9:4Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
- Acts 26:18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
- 1 Cor 6:9–11Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
- Ps 19:7The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
- Prov 1:4To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
- Ps 94:8Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
- Isa 42:13The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.
- Isa 55:1–3Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
- 1 Cor 1:28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
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 8:5 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.