“You naive ones, understand prudence; And, you fools, understand wisdom!
Parallel translations
- WEB You simple, understand prudence. You fools, be of an understanding heart.
- KJV O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye 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.
- 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 1:22“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
- Rev 3:17–18Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked;
- Prov 9:4“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
- Acts 26:18to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
- 1 Cor 6:9–11Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals,
- Ps 19:7Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s testimony is sure, making wise the simple.
- Prov 1:4to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man:
- Ps 94:8Consider, you senseless among the people; you fools, when will you be wise?
- Isa 42:13Yahweh will go out like a mighty man. He will stir up zeal like a man of war. He will raise a war cry. Yes, he will shout aloud. He will triumph over his enemies.
- Isa 55:1–3“Hey! Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters! Come, he who has no money, buy, and eat! Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
- 1 Cor 1:28and God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are:
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 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.