Proverbs 22:3 - Exposition

A prudent man foresesth the evil, and hideth himself. The whole verse is repeated in Proverbs 27:12 . St. Jerome has callidus, and the LXX . has πανοῦργος , as the translation of עָרוּם ( arum ); but it must be taken in a good sense, as cautions, farseeing, prudent (see note on Proverbs 1:4 ) Such a man looks around, takes warning from little circumstances which might escape the observation of careless persons, and provides for his safety in good time. Thus the Christians at the siege of Jerusalem, believing Christ's warnings, retired to Pella, and wine saved. A Spanish proverb runs, "That which the fool does in the end, the wise man does at the beginning." The simple pass on, and are punished. The subject of the former hemistich is in the singular number, for a really prudent man is a comparatively rare bring; the second clause is plural, teaching us, as Hitzig observes, that many simple ones are found for one prudent. These silly persons, blundering blindly on their way, without circumspection or forethought, meet with immediate punishment, incur dangers, suffer less . A Cornish proverb runs, "He who will not be ruled by the rudder must be ruled by the rock." Septuagint, "An intelligent man ( πανοῦργος ) seeing a wicked man punished is himself forcibly instructed; but fools pass by, and are punished" (comp. Proverbs 21:11 ).