Proverbs 3:7 - Exposition

Be not wise in thine own eyes. This admonition carries on the thought from the preceding verses (5, 6), approaching it from a different direction. It is a protest against self-sufficiency, self-conceit, and self-reliance. It says, in effect, "Trust in the Lord, do not trust in yourself." Wisdom, as Michaelis remarks, is to trust in God; to trust in yourself and in your own wisdom is unwisdom. God denounces this spirit: "Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!" ( Isaiah 5:21 ), because such a spirit leads to the prohibited self-dependence, and is inconsistent with "the tear of the Lord." The precept of the text is reiterated by St. Paul, especially in Romans 12:16 , "Be not wise in your own conceits" (cf. 1 Corinthians 8:8 ; Galatians 6:3 ). It commends humility. The diligent search for Wisdom is commanded. The great hindrance to all true wisdom is the thought that we have already attained it (Plumptre). In thine own eyes ; i.e. in thine own estimation; arbitrio tuo . Fear the Lord, and depart from evil. The connection of this with the first part of the verse becomes clear upon reflection. "The fear of the Lord" is true wisdom ( Job 28:28 ; Proverbs 1:7 ). Fear the Lord, therefore, because it is the best corrective of one's own wisdom, which engenders arrogance, pride, presumption of mind, which, moreover, is deceptive and apt to lead to sin. The fear of the Lord has this other advantage—that it leads to the departure from evil ( Proverbs 16:6 ) It is the mark of the wise man that he fears the Lord, and departs from evil ( Proverbs 14:16 ). These precepts form the two elements of practical piety (Delitzsch), an eminent example of which as Job ( Job 1:1 ).