KJV ORIGINAL
Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Every wise person acts with knowledge and understanding, but a fool openly displays their foolishness.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse teaches that wise people think before they act and use good judgment, while foolish people make their poor decisions obvious to everyone.
📚 Historical Context
This proverb comes from King Solomon's collection of wisdom sayings, written around 950-930 BC for training young people in practical life skills. In ancient Israel, being 'prudent' meant having the skill to navigate life successfully, while 'folly' referred to moral and practical foolishness that led to destruction. These contrasts between wisdom and foolishness were central to Hebrew wisdom literature.
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