Proverbs 16:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly.

NIV: Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools.

NASB: Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, But the discipline of fools is foolishness.

CSB: Insight is a fountain of life for its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.

NLT: Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it, but discipline is wasted on fools.

KJV: Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

NKJV: Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly.

This verse repeats a Hebrew word, used in other proverbs (Proverbs 12:8; 13:15; 19:11), which evokes ideas such as balance, common sense, and caution. Scripture often notes the benefits of diligence and care when making decisions (Proverbs 14:15; 18:13). A person with "good sense" not only benefits themselves, but they are also a refreshing help to others.

The second statement in this verse, as rendered in English, could be taken to mean that it's pointless to try to educate foolish people. That would correspond with other statements made in this book (Proverbs 9:7–8; 17:10) and other parts of Scripture (Matthew 7:6). The structure of these Hebrew proverbs, however, implies something different: that the way "fools" learn is through their "folly." The consequences of foolish actions teach the lessons wiser people would have listened to before making bad decisions. Learning through such consequences can be especially painful (Proverbs 10:14; 13:13; 14:3).

"Foolishness," in this context, is not a matter of intellect. The point is not about whether a person is smart or stupid. The worst expression of foolishness is insisting God doesn't exist. Psalm 14:1 describes such persons as "corrupt" and caught up in sin. Ecclesiastes 10:12 declares, "The lips of a fool consume him." Someday the Lord will judge the fool's words. In Ezekiel 13 He identifies false prophets as fools (Ezekiel 13:3) and predicts devastating judgment against them. In the same passage, God promises to pour out His wrath and cause them to perish (Ezekiel 13:13–14).

Proverbs 16:16–26 focuses on righteousness, pride, humility, faith, speaking, and industrious labor. Again, we see the contrast between the upright and fools, as well as between diligence and laziness. Many of these proverbs come in a two-sentence style, where each presents the same idea from different directions of thought.

This part of Solomon's proverbs emphasizes human motives, self-control, and common sense. Many of these proverbs are arranged in a two-part style. The first and second half of these statements make the same basic point, but from opposite perspectives. Notable verses are verses 9 and 33, speaking of God's sovereignty, and verse 18, a famous warning about arrogance. Also often cited is verse 25, which repeats Proverbs 14:12 and encourages self-reflection.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.