God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 14:16
16A wise person is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is careless and overconfident.
Proverbs 14:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
- New International Version (NIV)The wise fear the Lord and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.
- English Standard Version (ESV)One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.
- New King James Version (NKJV)A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident.
Context of Proverbs 14:16
14A heart that turns ⌞from God⌟ becomes bored with its own ways, but a good person is satisfied with God’s ways. 15A gullible person believes anything, but a sensible person watches his step. A wise person is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is careless and overconfident. 17A short-tempered person acts stupidly, and a person who plots evil is hated. 18Gullible people are gifted with stupidity, but sensible people are crowned with knowledge.
Read all of Proverbs 14Proverbs 14:16 word by word
חָכָ֣ם יָ֭רֵא וְסָ֣ר מֵרָ֑ע וּ֝כְסִ֗יל מִתְעַבֵּ֥ר וּבוֹטֵֽחַ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 14:16
- Proverbs 3:7Do not consider yourself wise. Fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
- Proverbs 16:6By mercy and faithfulness, peace is made with the Lord. By the fear of the Lord, evil is avoided.
- Proverbs 22:3Sensible people foresee trouble and hide ⌞from it⌟, but gullible people go ahead and suffer ⌞the consequence⌟.
- Genesis 33:9Esau said, “I have enough. Keep what you have, Brother.”
- Genesis 42:18On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this, and you will live. I, too, fear God.
- Nehemiah 5:15Those who were governors before me had made life difficult for the people by taking from them food and wine plus one pound of silver. Even the governors’ servants took advantage of their power over the people. But I didn’t do that, because I feared God.
- Job 31:21If I have shaken my fist at an orphan because I knew that others would back me up in court,
- Psalms 119:120My body shudders in fear of you, and I am afraid of your regulations.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:22Keep away from every kind of evil.
- Proverbs 7:22He immediately follows her like a steer on its way to be slaughtered, like a ram hobbling into captivity
- Proverbs 28:14Blessed is the one who is always fearful ⌞of sin⌟, but whoever is hard-hearted falls into disaster.
- Proverbs 29:9When a wise person goes to court with a stubborn fool, he may rant and rave, but there is no peace and quiet.
- 1 Kings 19:2Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah. She said, “May the gods strike me dead if by this time tomorrow I don’t take your life the way you took the lives of Baal’s prophets.”
- 1 Kings 20:10Then Benhadad sent Ahab the following message: “May the gods strike me dead if there will be enough dust left from Samaria to give a handful to each soldier who follows me.”
- Ecclesiastes 10:13A fool starts out by talking foolishness and ends up saying crazy things that are dangerous.
- Mark 6:17Herod had sent men who had arrested John, tied him up, and put him in prison. Herod did that for Herodias, whom he had married. (She used to be his brother Philip’s wife.)
Commentaries on Proverbs 14:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16A wise man feareth - He can never trust in himself, though he be satisfied from himself. He knows that his suffiency is of God; and he has that fear that causes him to depart from evil, which is a guardian to the love he feels. Love renders him cautious; the other makes him confident. His caution leads him from sin; his confidence leads him to God.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16Verse 16 Holy fear guards against every thing unholy.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. (Compare Pr 3:7; 28:14). rageth--acts proudly and conceitedly.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 14:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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