Proverbs 8:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.

NIV: You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.

NASB: You naive ones, understand prudence; And, you fools, understand wisdom!

CSB: Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced; develop common sense, you who are foolish.

NLT: You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding.

KJV: O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

NKJV: O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart.

Wisdom, poetically imaged as a woman calling out to all mankind (Proverbs 8:1–4), invites human beings to learn. Specifically, this is a warning not to be lazy or complacent about one's knowledge. The word translated "simple" here is from the root pe'ti, which implies someone young, gullible, or easy to manipulate. Likewise, "prudence" comes from the root term 'ormah, which essentially means the opposite: sense, wisdom, shrewdness, and so forth. Despite the claims of critics, Scripture does not encourage blind, mindless belief in God. Rather, as shown here, it demands that humanity sensibly follow what's clearly seen (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:18–20) to a reasonable conclusion. In this context, the most important aspect of prudence is the possession of high moral values. The call of the adulterous woman encouraged her targeted client to abandon morals (Proverbs 7:18–19); wisdom's call is the opposite.

When Jesus ministered on earth, He called sinners to repent, and He empowered them to leave their evil lifestyle behind. He told the woman caught in adultery to "go, and from now on sin no more" (John 8:11). When Zacchaeus trusted in Christ, he was prepared to perform restitution. He said, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold" (Luke 19:8). Even fools are invited to obtain sense. It is foolish to disbelieve God and continue in sin, but when a fool responds to Jesus' invitation to receive salvation, he obtains sense. Christianity enables saved sinners to see life clearly and live righteously (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Proverbs 8:1–11 comes immediately after a potent warning about a promiscuous, seductive woman. Here, Solomon again presents a woman, this time as wisdom personified (Proverbs 1:20). She calls from everywhere to men to learn prudence and sense. She cites the value of learning from her. Her words are noble, right, true, righteous, and honest. Wisdom is far greater than silver, choice gold, jewels, and everything else that can be compared with her.

In this passage, wisdom is once again imagined as a woman who cries out to be heard (Proverbs 1:20–21). Wisdom extols her own truth and value. Wisdom was part of God's creative power long before even the creation of the universe. The chapter again returns to the many benefits of godly wisdom, before completing those declarations at the start of the next chapter.

Thus far in Proverbs, Solomon has spoken about the virtues of wisdom and the need to acquire it and live by it. He has also warned about the dangers of rejecting wisdom. Chapter 7 ended with a description of a promiscuous woman seducing a foolish young man. Now, in chapter 8, he lets wisdom speak, once again personified as a woman. She speaks about her existence before creation and her gift of life to all who find her. This analogy continues into chapter 9.

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.