Proverbs 14:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:8

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:8

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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 14:8

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. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:8

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way. The wisdom of the prudent is shown by his considering whither his actions lead, the motives from which they spring, the results that attend them. As the apostle enjoins ( Ephesians 5:15 ), "See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise." Or the clause may be taken as enjoining a wise choice in life, a selection of such a calling or occupation as best suits one's capabilities, station, and opportunities. The folly of fools is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:8

Understanding our way A man may be "prudent," he may be clever, learned, astute; yet he may miss his way, he may lose his life, he may prove to be a failure. The wisdom of the prudent, that which makes prudence or ability really valuable, that which constitutes its virtue, is the practical understanding of life, the knowledge which enables a man to take the right path and keep it, the discretion which chooses the line of a true success and maintains it to the end. It is to perceive and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:8-19

The understanding of one's way I. THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE . ( Proverbs 14:8 .) To note, to observe, to take heed to one's way, is the characteristic of the man who is prudent for time and wise for eternity. And, on the contrary, the very principle of folly is self-deception—to be followed in turn by a terrible awakening to sobriety and recognition of the truth (comp. Psalms 7:15 ; Job 4:8 ). The right way is illustrated both positively and negatively. II. SOME PARTICULAR ... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 14:8

Proverbs 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 men’s 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... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:1-35

Hidden feelings and motives (14:1-35)Wisdom builds, but folly destroys. People’s actions reveal their attitude to God (14:1-2). The wisdom of their speech and their commitment to hard work are among the things that determine whether they progress or come to ruin (3-5). Those who think they know everything can never become truly wise and therefore can never have right discernment in the moral issues of life (6-8).Good people may prosper and evil people may suffer loss, but outward appearances do... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 14:8

wisdom. Hebrew. chokma. See note on Proverbs 1:2 . the prudent = a prudent one. See note on "subtil", Genesis 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 Proverbs 11:18 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 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."[9]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"![10] read more

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