Proverbs 14:16 - Exposition

A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil ( Proverbs 22:3 ). In Proverbs 3:7 we had, "Fear the Lord, and depart from evil;" but here the idea is different. A wise man fears the evil that lurks in everything, and examines and ponders actions by the standard of religion, and is thus saved from many evils which arise from hastiness and inadvertence. The fool rageth, and is confident ( Proverbs 21:24 ; Proverbs 28:26 ). The fool easily falls into a rage, and has no control over himself, and is confident in his own wisdom, in contrast to the wise man, who has trust in God, and is calm and thoughtful ( Isaiah 30:15 ). Revised Version, "beareth himself insolently, and is confident;" but, as Nowack remarks, the word ( mithabber ) , where it occurs elsewhere, means, "to be excited," "to be in a passion" (comp. Proverbs 21:24 ; Proverbs 26:17 ; Psalms 78:21 , Psalms 78:59 , Psalms 78:62 ), and this usual signification gives a good meaning here. Vulgate, transilit, "he overleaps" all laws and restrictions. The LXX ; by transposition of the letters, reads mithareh, and translates μίγνυται , " The fool trusting to himself mixes himself up with sinners."