Proverbs 14 · Verse 8

Proverbs 14:8

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

Proverbs 14:8, King James Version

Proverbs 14:8 in other translations

BSB	The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
WEB	The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
ASV	The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.
YLT	The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, And the folly of fools is deceit.
DARBY	The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way; but the folly of the foolish is deceit.
BBE	The wisdom of the man of good sense makes his way clear; but the unwise behaviour of the foolish is deceit.
Webster	The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

What does Proverbs 14:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

8. Appearances deceive the thoughtless, but the prudent discriminate.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 8 Is to understand his way - Instead of הבין habin, to understand, הכין hachin, to Direct his way, is found in one MS. It makes a very good sense.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

We are travellers, whose concern is, not to spy out wonders, but to get to their journey's end; to understand the rules we are to walk by, also the ends we are to walk toward. The bad man cheats himself, and goes on in his mistake.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 14:8 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.

חָכְמַ֣תcha.khe.Mat[the] wisdom ofH2451

עָ֭רוּם'A.ruma sensible [person]H6175

הָבִ֣יןha.Vin[is] to understandH995

דַּרְכּ֑וֹdar.Koown way hisH1870

וְאִוֶּ֖לֶתve.'i.Ve.letand [the] foolishness ofH200

כְּסִילִ֣יםke.si.LimfoolsH3684

מִרְמָֽה\׃mir.Mah[is] deceitH4820

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

Cross references for Proverbs 14:8

Ephesians 5:17
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
2 Timothy 3:13
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
James 3:13
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
Colossians 1:9-10
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Psalms 119:73
י JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
Proverbs 8:20
I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
Psalms 119:5
O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
Psalms 119:34-35
Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
Proverbs 2:9
Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
Psalms 111:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Proverbs 11:18
The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
Ephesians 4:22
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

wisdom.
2:9; 8:20; Ps 111:10; 119:5,34,35,73; 143:8; Eph 5:17; Col 1:9,10
2Ti 3:15-17; Jas 3:13
folly.
11:18; Jer 13:20; *marg:
Lu 12:19,20; Eph 4:22; 2Ti 3:13

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

Context

Proverbs 14:7
Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
Proverbs 14:8
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
Proverbs 14:9
Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

Read all of Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14:8 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	La ciencia del cuerdo es entender su camino: mas la indiscreción de los necios es engaño.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	La sagesse de l’homme avisé est de discerner sa voie, mais la folie des sots est tromperie.
German Elberfelder 1871	Die Weisheit des Klugen ist, auf seinen Weg zu merken, und die Narrheit der Toren ist Betrug.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Sapientia callidi est intelligere viam suam, et imprudentia stultorum errans.