Proverbs 22:3 · King James Version
Proverbs 22:3 in the Original Hebrew
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Proverbs 22:3 in Other Translations
| KJV | A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. |
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| WEB | A prudent man sees danger, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it. |
| ASV | A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it. |
| YLT | The prudent hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished. |
| WBT | A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. |
| DBY | A prudent [man] seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished. |
Commentary on Proverbs 22:3
Expositions from classic Bible commentators.
John Gill · Proverbs 22:3
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself,.... A wise man, whose eyes are in his head, who looks about him and before him, and is cautious and careful of his conduct and behaviour; he foresees the evil of sin he is liable to be drawn into by such and such company, snares, and temptations; and therefore he keeps from them, and abstains from all appearance of evil, or what would lead him to it; and he foresees the evil of punishment, or the judgments of God that are coming on for sin; and he betakes himself to the Lord, to those hiding places and chambers of retreat and protection he has provided for his people, till the indignation be overpast; see Isa 26:20;
but the simple pass on, and are punished: foolish persons, devoid of the grace of God and the fear of him, go on careless and unconcerned in their sinful course of life, transgressing the law of God; they proceed from evil to evil, from lesser to greater sins; they go on in the broad road to destruction, and are punished with temporal judgments here, and with everlasting destruction hereafter.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Proverbs 22:3
are punished--that is, for their temerity; for the evil is not necessarily punitive, as the prudent might otherwise be its objects.
Read Jamieson, Fausset & Brown's full commentary on Proverbs 22 →
Cross References for Proverbs 22:3
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Questions about Proverbs 22:3
What does Proverbs 22:3 say?
Proverbs 22:3 in the King James Version reads: “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.” Read it in the full context of Proverbs 22, alongside the classic commentary on this page.
Where is Proverbs 22:3 found in the Bible?
Proverbs 22:3 is in the book of Proverbs, chapter 22, verse 3, in the Old Testament.
What Bible translation is Proverbs 22:3 shown in?
This is the King James Version (KJV), a public-domain translation. You can compare how other translations render Proverbs 22:3 in the table on this page.
See here, 1. The benefit of wisdom and consideration: A prudent man, by the help of his prudence, will foresee an evil, before it comes, and hide himself; he will be aware when he is entering into a temptation and will put on his armour and stand on his guard. When the clouds are gathering for a storm he takes the warning, and flies to the name of the Lord as his strong tower. Noah foresaw the deluge, Joseph the years of famine, and provided accordingly. 2. The mischief of rashness and inconsideration. The simple, who believe every word that flatters them, will believe none that warns them, and so they pass on and are punished. They venture upon sin, though they are told what will be in the end thereof; they throw themselves into trouble, notwithstanding the fair warning given them, and they repent their presumption when it is too late. See an instance of both these, Exo 9:20, Exo 9:21. Nothing is so fatal to precious souls as this, they will not take warning.