Proverbs 26:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

NIV: Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.

NASB: Do you see a person wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

CSB: Do you see a person who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

NLT: There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise.

KJV: Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

NKJV: Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

It's been said that "intent is prior to content." That implies that what a person wants to believe is more influential than any facts they are given. When someone sincerely believes they could not possibly be wrong, they are immune to learning and correction (Proverbs 1:24–26; 8:33; 16:18; 19:20) . In this way, Solomon (Proverbs 25:1) expresses pessimism about those with an inflated ego. His comparison is extraordinary, since a "fool" in Proverbs rejects godly truth and wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 3:5–8). For Solomon to suggest someone has less hope than a fool is brutal criticism.

The apostle James decries pride. He quotes Proverbs 3:34 in James 4:6: "Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" Jesus illustrated the truth given in James 4:6. He told a story about two men who prayed in the temple. The Pharisee boasted about himself, claiming he was superior to the despised tax collector. But God rejected the Pharisee's prayer. On the other hand, the tax collector was humble, repentant, and asked for God's mercy. Jesus said the tax collector went home justified in God's sight (Luke 18:9–14).

Proverbs 26:1–12 is mostly a series of blunt, negative remarks about a "fool;" the word appears in all but one verse. In the book of Proverbs, a "fool" is one who rejects godly wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). The segment also includes a famous pair of statements which seem contradictory. Since verses 4 and 5 are written side-by-side, the implication is that there are times where one approach or the other is best. Generally, those who ignore God's truth (Proverbs 8:34–36) are dangerous and unreliable.

This chapter includes three main sections. The first repeatedly refers to a "fool," meaning someone lacking godly wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). The second warns against being lazy. The third condemns careless conflict, lying, and warns about those who disguise their hate with words. Several statements in this passage repeat or echo others made in the book of Proverbs.

Chapter 25 introduced another section of Solomon's proverbs (Proverbs 25:1). These were collected by later scribes; the list runs through the end of chapter 29. This chapter covers topics such as foolishness, laziness, and conflict. This echoes principles given in other proverbs.

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.