Proverbs 13:16

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.

American Standard Version (1901)

Every prudent man worketh with knowledge; But a fool flaunteth his folly.

Bible in Basic English

A sharp man does everything with knowledge, but a foolish man makes clear his foolish thoughts.

Douay-Rheims 1899

The prudent mall doth all things with counsel: but he that is a fool, layeth open his folly.

Free Bible Version

All wise people act intelligently, but stupid people demonstrate their stupidity.

Geneva Bible 1599

Euery wise man will worke by knowledge: but a foole will spread abroade folly.

King James (Authorized) Version

Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

One Unity Resource Bible

Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.

Translation for Translators

Those who have good sense always think carefully/wisely before they do something; foolish people show by what they say and do that they are foolish.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Prudent people act out of knowledge in every decision, but a fool parades his folly.

Noah Webster Bible

Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

World English Bible

Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.

Young's Literal Translation

Every prudent one dealeth with knowledge, And a fool spreadeth out folly.

Context

A Father’s Discipline

¹⁵Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the faithless is difficult. ¹⁶Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.

Sermons

From the Death of Alexander the Great to the Death of Judas Maccabeus

Flavius Josephus

Summary

This verse highlights the importance of using wisdom and prudence in one's actions and decisions. It emphasizes that a wise person thinks carefully before acting, while a fool is impulsive and careless. The verse encourages individuals to consider the consequences of their choices and to seek counsel from others who are wise. Ultimately, it underscores the value of wisdom in guiding one's path and leading to success and prosperity.

Commentary

Keil-Delitzsch
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Matthew Henry

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

16 Every prudent man acteth with understanding; But a fool spreadeth abroad folly. Hitzig reads, with the Syr. (but not the Targ.) and Jerome, כּל (omnia agit), but contrary to the Hebr. syntax. The כּל־ is not feeble and useless, but means that he always acts בּדּעת, mit Bedacht [with judgment] (opp. בּבלי דעת, inconsulto, Deu 4:42; Deu 19:4), while on the contrary the fool displays folly. Pro 12:23 and Pro 15:2 serve to explain both members of the verse. Bedchtigkeit [judgment] is just knowledge directed to a definite practical end, a clear thought concentrated on a definite point. יקרא, he calls out, and יבּיע, he sputters out, are parallels to יפרשׂ. Fleischer: פּרשׂ, expandit (opp. Arab. ṭawy, intra animum cohibuit), as a cloth or paper folded or rolled together, cf. Schiller's (Note: "Er breitet es heiter und glnzend aus, Das zusammengewickelte Leben.") - "He spreads out brightly and splendidly The enveloped life." There lies in the word something derisive: as the merchant unrolls and spreads out his wares in order to commend them, so the fool does with his foolery, which he had enveloped, i.e., had the greatest interest to keep concealed within himself - he is puffed up therewith.