Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 14:8
The wisdom of the prudent [is] to understand his way: but the folly of fools [is] deceit.
8. deceit ] It has been questioned whether this means self -deceit, as the parallel might seem to suggest, or deceiving others. But the design of the proverb is to shew that the two things are really one. Whereas the wisdom of the prudent consists in his understanding his own character and conduct, in its relation to God, to his neighbour and to himself, the folly of fools is that being self-deceived, they think they can deceive God and man to their own advantage. Comp. 2Ti 3:13.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The Hebrew counterpart to the Greek Know thyself. The highest wisdom is for a person to understand his own way. The most extreme folly is self-deceit. The word deceit may, however, involve fraud practiced upon others. The folly of fools shows itself then in their ceaseless effort to deceive.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 8. Is to understand his way] Instead of habin, to understand, hachin, to DIRECT his way, is found in one MS. It makes a very good sense.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; it consists not in vain speculations, nor in a curious prying into other mens matters, nor in cunning arts of deceiving others; but in a diligent study of his own duty, and of the way to true and eternal happiness.
The folly of fools is deceit; the wit of ungodly men, which, though they account their wisdom, is really their folly, is employed only in finding out ways of overreaching and deceiving others, and themselves too.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. Appearances deceive thethoughtless, but the prudent discriminate.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The wisdom of the prudent [is] to understand his way,…. The way of his calling, in which he should abide, and how to manage it in the best manner; the way of his duty, that he may walk inoffensively both towards God and men; and the way of life and salvation, which is by Jesus Christ, which to understand and to walk in is the highest wisdom and prudence;
but the folly of fools [is] deceit: or “the wisdom of fools”, which the opposition requires, and is meant, and is what the Holy Ghost calls “folly”, as elsewhere, 1Co 3:19; this is itself “deceit”; it is science, falsely so called; it lies in tricking and deceiving; and the issue of it is, not only the deceiving of others, but themselves also: such is the folly of the man of sin and followers, which lies in deceiving the inhabitants of the earth with their sorceries and superstitions, with their lying wonders and miracles; see 2Th 2:10
Re 13:14.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to observe his way,
And the folly of fools is deceit.
The nearest idea is that of self-deceit, according to which the lxx, Syr., and Jerome render the word error (“ Irrsal ”). But is nowhere else used of self-deception, and moreover is not the suitable word for such an idea, since the conception of the dolus malus is constantly associated with it. Thus the contrast will be this: the wisdom of the prudent shows itself in this, that he considers his conduct ( as Pro 7:7, cf. Psa 5:2), i.e., regulates it carefully, examining and considering (Pro 13:16) it according to right and duty; and that on the contrary the folly of fools shows itself in this, that they aim at the malevolent deception of their neighbour, and try all kinds of secret ways for the gaining of this end. The former is wisdom, because from the good only good comes; the latter is folly or madness, because deception, however long it may sneak in darkness, yet at last comes to light, and recoils in its destructive effects upon him from whom it proceeds.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
See here, 1. The good conduct of a wise and good man; he manages himself well. It is not the wisdom of the learned, which consists only in speculation, that is here recommended, but the wisdom of the prudent, which is practical, and is of use to direct our counsels and actions. Christian prudence consists in a right understanding of our way; for we are travellers, whose concern it is, not to spy wonders, but to get forward towards their journey’s end. It is to understand our own way, not to be critics and busybodies in other men’s matters, but to look well to ourselves and ponder the path of our feet, to understand the directions of our way, that we may observe them, the dangers of our way, that we may avoid them, the difficulties of our way, that we may break through them, and the advantages of our way, that we may improve them–to understand the rules we are to walk by and the ends we are to walk towards, and walk accordingly. 2. The bad conduct of a bad man; he puts a cheat upon himself. He does not rightly understand his way; he thinks he does, and so misses his way, and goes on in his mistake: The folly of fools is deceit; it cheats them into their own ruin. The folly of him that built on the sand was deceit.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Honesty and Deceit
Verse 8 declares that the wise man will seek to understand and follow the RIGHT course in the choices and decisions he makes; but the folly of fools will be revealed in their oft repeated efforts to deceive, Vs. 18; Vs. 24; Pro 15:21; Pro 19:25; Pro 28:5; Pro 12:5; Pro 12:17; Pro 12:20; Pro 14:25; Pro 26:24.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(8) The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way.To look to it carefully that it is such as God would have it; but the folly of fools (stupid persons, as Pro. 14:7], is deceit; it shows itself in trying to cheat others, though they are sure to be detected at last.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Wisdom of the prudent The wary, cautious.
Is to understand Is the discerning of his way; that is, it is the means of doing so; points out the right way to him.
But the folly of fools is deceit Delusive, deceitful, even to themselves; folly misleads them into wrong paths. “The highest wisdom is for a man to [know,] understand, his own way. The extremest folly is self-deceit.” Speaker’s Com. Compare Pro 13:16; Luk 12:20 ; 1Co 3:19; 2Ti 3:13. Some understand by this the deceits or frauds practised upon others. Their folly is seen in their ceaseless efforts to deceive.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
v. 8. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Pro 14:8. The wisdom of the prudent Lord Bacon renders this verse thus: A wise man is wary of his way; a cunning fool seeks evasion. There be two sorts of wisdom, says he; the one true and sound, the other counterfeit and false; which last Solomon hesitates not to call folly. He who applies himself to the former takes heed to his own ways and footings; foreseeing dangers, studying remedies, using the assistance of good men, and fortifying himself against the wicked: wary how he enters upon a business, and not unprepared for a handsome retreat: attentive to advantages, courageous against impediments, with innumerable other things relating to the government of his own ways and actions. But that other kind is made up altogether of fallacies and cunning devices, and relies wholly upon the hopes of circumventing others, and framing them as it lists. This wisdom the parable rejects, not only as wicked, but as foolish; for, first, it is not in the number of things which are in our own power, nor is it directed by any constant rule; but new stratagems must be every day devised, the old failing and growing useless: and, secondly, as soon as a man hath got the name and opinion of a cunning crafty companion, he hath deprived himself utterly of the principal instrument for the management of his affairs; which is, trust; and so he will find, by experience, all things go cross to his desires: for, lastly, these arts and shifts, however they promise fair, and much please such as practise them; yet they are commonly frustrated, and, which is worse, end sadly. “Crafty and audacious counsels (says Tacitus remarkably) are joyful in the expectation, difficult in the management, and sorrowful in the event.” See Advancement of Learning, as above.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Pro 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent [is] to understand his way: but the folly of fools [is] deceit.
Ver. 8. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way. ] His wisdom begins in the right knowledge of himself, and ends in the right knowledge of God, that he may “walk worthy of God in all well pleasing,” worthy of the calling wherewith he is called, that high and “heavenly calling” Heb 3:1 to the fruition of high and heavenly privileges, to an angelical and convincing conversation, such as may draw hearts or daunt them. We use to say of him that knows his place, and carries himself accordingly, such a man understands himself well enough. So here.
But the folly of fools is deceit.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
wisdom. Hebrew. chokma. See note on Pro 1:2.
the prudent = a prudent one. See note on “subtil”, Gen 3:1.
is to understand. Not to vainly speculate about it, or to pry into the ways of others.
deceit = lying. Hebrew. ramah. See note on Pro 11:18.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Pro 14:8
Pro 14:8
“The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.”
“Shrewd men are wise in grasping their affairs, but the folly of a fool leads him astray.
The first clause here is the Hebrew counterpart of the Greek, “Know thy way,” or “Know thyself.” “The highest wisdom is for a man to know his own way. The fool, on the other hand, whose specialty is that of deceiving others, is (in the second clause) led astray, because he has deceived himself”!
Pro 14:8. The prudent wisely watch every aspect of their lives (Pro 14:15). They do not jump and then look for a place to land. They do not shoot and then investigate whether it was a deer or a man. They do not sign the contract and then study to see what they signed. And spiritually they are just as careful (Eph 5:15). The foolish foolishly suppose they can deceive others, but seldom are they successful in their attempt.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
wisdom: Pro 2:9, Pro 8:20, Psa 111:10, Psa 119:5, Psa 119:34, Psa 119:35, Psa 119:73, Psa 143:8, Eph 5:17, Col 1:9, Col 1:10, 2Ti 3:15-17, Jam 3:13
folly: Pro 11:18, Jer 13:20, *marg. Luk 12:19, Luk 12:20, Eph 4:22, 2Ti 3:13
Reciprocal: Deu 4:6 – this is your 1Ki 3:9 – to judge 1Ch 12:32 – to know 1Ch 22:12 – that thou mayest 2Ch 1:11 – that thou mayest Psa 119:125 – that I Pro 2:7 – layeth Pro 10:8 – wise Pro 14:15 – the prudent Pro 20:24 – how Pro 26:24 – deceit Ecc 2:14 – wise Ecc 10:2 – wise Mat 7:24 – a wise Act 13:7 – a prudent 1Co 6:5 – Is it Eph 5:15 – not Col 3:16 – all
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 14:8. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way It consists not in vain speculations, nor in a curious prying into other mens matters, much less in subtle arts of deceiving others, but in a diligent study of his own duty, and of the way to true and eternal happiness; but the folly of fools is deceit The wit of ungodly men, which, though they account it their wisdom, is really their folly, is employed only in finding out ways of overreaching and deceiving others, and themselves too.