Proverbs 14 · Verse 16

Proverbs 14:16

A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
Proverbs 14:16, King James Version

Proverbs 14:16 in other translations

BSBA wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.
WEBA wise man fears and shuns evil, but the fool is hot headed and reckless.
ASVA wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.
YLTThe wise is fearing and turning from evil, And a fool is transgressing and is confident.
DARBYA wise man feareth and departeth from evil; but the foolish is overbearing and confident.
BBEThe wise man, fearing, keeps himself from evil; but the foolish man goes on in his pride, with no thought of danger.
WebsterA wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

What does Proverbs 14:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. (Compare Pr 3:7; 28:14). rageth--acts proudly and conceitedly.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 A 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Holy fear guards against every thing unholy.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 14:16 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

חָכָ֣םcha.Khama wise [person]H2450
יָ֭רֵאYa.re'[is] fearingH3373
וְסָ֣רve.Sarand [is] turning asideH5493
מֵרָ֑עme.Ra'from evilH7451
וּ֝כְסִ֗ילu.khe.Siland a foolH3684
מִתְעַבֵּ֥רmit.'a.Ber[is] arrogantH5674
וּבוֹטֵֽחַ\׃u.vo.Te.achand [is] confidentH982

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 14:16

  • Proverbs 22:3

    A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

  • Proverbs 3:7

    Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:22

    Abstain from all appearance of evil.

  • Proverbs 29:9

    If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.

  • Genesis 42:18

    And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:

  • Proverbs 28:14

    Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

  • Job 31:21-23

    If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate: Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone. For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

  • 1 Kings 20:10-11

    And Ben–hadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me. And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.

  • Proverbs 16:6

    By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

  • Genesis 33:9

    And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.

  • Proverbs 16:17

    The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

  • 1 Kings 19:2

    Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
feareth.
3:7; 16:6,17; 22:3; Ge 33:9; 42:18; Ne 5:15; Job 31:21-23
Ps 119:120; 1Th 5:22
the fool.
7:22; 28:14; 29:9; 1Ki 19:2; 20:10,11,18; Ec 10:13
Mr 6:17-19,24,25; Joh 9:40

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 14:15

    The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

  • Proverbs 14:16

    A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

  • Proverbs 14:17

    He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

Read all of Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El sabio teme, y se aparta del mal: mas el necio se arrebata, y confía.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Le sage craint, et se retire du mal; mais le sot est arrogant et a de l’assurance.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der Weise fürchtet sich und meidet das Böse, aber der Tor braust auf und ist sorglos.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sapiens timet, et declinat a malo; stultus transilit, et confidit.