A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
A wise person sees trouble coming and takes cover, but foolish people keep going and get hurt.
This verse is teaching that wise people anticipate problems and protect themselves, while foolish people ignore warning signs and suffer the consequences.
📚 Historical Context
This proverb comes from Solomon's collection of wise sayings, written around 950 BC for young people learning to navigate life successfully. In ancient Israel, being 'prudent' meant having practical wisdom to make good decisions, while being 'simple' referred to those who were naive or refused to learn from experience. These teachings were meant to help people avoid unnecessary hardship through careful observation and planning.
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