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Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Proverbs 14:16
A wiseman feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

Proverbs 16:2,25
All the ways of a manare clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits…

but

Proverbs 1:5
A wiseman will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Proverbs 9:9
Giveinstruction to a wiseman, and he will be yet wiser: teach a justman, and he will increase in learning.

Proverbs 19:20
Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

but a wise man listens to counsel
In contrast, the wise person is characterized by humility and openness to guidance. This aligns with the broader biblical theme that wisdom is found in seeking and heeding advice from others, particularly those who are godly and experienced.Proverbs 11:14 emphasizes the importance of having many advisers for success. The wise man's willingness to listen reflects a heart posture that values community and accountability, which are central to biblical teaching. This attitude is also seen in the life of Jesus Christ, who, though divine, engaged with others and valued their input, exemplifying perfect wisdom and humility.

“The way” points to a consistent pattern of life, not a random detour. In Proverbs, the Lord lays out two basic roads—wisdom that leads to life, and folly that drifts toward ruin (seeProverbs 4:18–19). Jesus echoes the same divide: “Enter through the narrow gate… small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life” (Matthew 7:13-14). Scripture never treats our choices as inconsequential; each step moves us farther along one road or the other.

A “fool” in the biblical sense is not someone lacking intelligence but one who dismisses God’s authority (Psalm 14:1). Traits that mark this person:

• Ignores the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7).

• Scoffs at correction (Proverbs 9:7-8).

• Is quick-tempered and reckless (Proverbs 14:16-17).

Such a heart condition blinds the fool to the danger ahead, making him sure he’s on the right track even while he rushes toward disaster.

Self-confidence is not automatically sinful, but self-deception is. The fool trusts his gut feelings over God’s revealed truth.Judges 21:25 describes an entire generation that “did what was right in their own eyes,” and the result was moral chaos.Psalm 36:2 adds that the wicked “flatters himself in his own eyes” so that he cannot see his sin. Pride constructs an echo chamber: no outside voice is allowed to challenge personal opinion.

By contrast, wisdom wears humility. “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). The wise person welcomes:

• God’s Word—“Your testimonies are my counselors” (Psalm 119:24).

• God’s people—“Iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17).

• God’s Spirit—“He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

James 1:19 ties it together: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak.” Teachability shields the wise from pitfalls the fool never sees coming.

Proverbs 12:15 contrasts two life trajectories. The fool barrels ahead, convinced his way cannot be wrong, yet his confidence is anchored in pride and ends in harm. The wise, knowing Scripture is always right and human insight is limited, opens his ears to godly counsel and finds safety. One path exalts self; the other submits to truth. Only the listening, humble heart walks securely with God.

Ὅς τις τοι δοκέει τὸν πλησίον ἴδμεναι οὐδὲν
Ἀλλ αὐτὸς μοῦνος ποικίλα δήνε ἔχειν
Κεῖνός γ ἄφρων ἐστὶ νόου βεβλαμμένος ἐσθλοῦ
Ἴσως γὰρ πάντες ποικίλ ἐπιστάμεθα

"Who thinks his neighbour nothing knows,
And he alone can see,
Is but a fool, for we perhaps
Know even more than he."

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