Pro 14:16 | KingComments | STEP | “A wise man” is cautious and not reckless ( ). The first line of verse says that a wise person fears because he sees the danger around him and also recognizes his own weakness. Therefore, he “turns away from evil”. Since the name ‘LORD’ is not used, it is probably not about fearing God (although he certainly will), but fearing the consequences of willful actions. The wise person is cautious. Opposed to this is the reckless, confident, arrogant and careless fool. He lets himself go, has no brakes and indulges himself. The fool is arrogant and trusts in himself, whereas of all types of people he should be the most cautious. He trusts his own feelings and pretended wisdom. Such a person was Sennacherib, the boasting king of Assyria ( ). He thought himself perfectly safe, untouchable from any enemy. To him, the LORD was no more than a national idol, just as all nations had their own idols. He deceived himself about that. In , two character traits are mentioned that are unpleasant to others. It is about two people. One is quick-tempered or hotheaded, it is someone with a short fuse. The other is cunning. The first makes himself known directly; the other works stealthily, avoiding anything that might make his true intentions known. Scripture warns not to be quick-tempered, but instead slow to anger ( ; ). Being quick-tempered is opposed to self-control which everyone needs, for no one has a fuse of unlimited length. The temperamental person acts foolishly and explodes at the slightest adversity. We should not, when things go wrong, lose our patience, but learn to persevere under evil. The “man of evil devices” can be the counterpart of the quick-tempered person. He is cunning in his intentions. His victim does not readily realize that he is being wronged. When he realizes he has been victimized, it is too late with the result that he hates the cunning man.

‏ Proverbs 14:16

The Wise and the Arrogant

“A wise man” is cautious and not reckless (Pro 14:16). The first line of verse says that a wise person fears because he sees the danger around him and also recognizes his own weakness. Therefore, he “turns away from evil”. Since the name ‘LORD’ is not used, it is probably not about fearing God (although he certainly will), but fearing the consequences of willful actions. The wise person is cautious.

Opposed to this is the reckless, confident, arrogant and careless fool. He lets himself go, has no brakes and indulges himself. The fool is arrogant and trusts in himself, whereas of all types of people he should be the most cautious. He trusts his own feelings and pretended wisdom. Such a person was Sennacherib, the boasting king of Assyria (2Kgs 19:28-37). He thought himself perfectly safe, untouchable from any enemy. To him, the LORD was no more than a national idol, just as all nations had their own idols. He deceived himself about that.

In Pro 14:17, two character traits are mentioned that are unpleasant to others. It is about two people. One is quick-tempered or hotheaded, it is someone with a short fuse. The other is cunning. The first makes himself known directly; the other works stealthily, avoiding anything that might make his true intentions known.

Scripture warns not to be quick-tempered, but instead slow to anger (Tit 1:7; Jam 1:19). Being quick-tempered is opposed to self-control which everyone needs, for no one has a fuse of unlimited length. The temperamental person acts foolishly and explodes at the slightest adversity. We should not, when things go wrong, lose our patience, but learn to persevere under evil.

The “man of evil devices” can be the counterpart of the quick-tempered person. He is cunning in his intentions. His victim does not readily realize that he is being wronged. When he realizes he has been victimized, it is too late with the result that he hates the cunning man.