KJV: A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
ASV: A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Matthew Henry Commentary
3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
See here, 1. The benefit of wisdom and consideration: A prudent man, by the help of his prudence, will foresee an evil, before it comes, and hide himself; he will be aware when he is entering into a temptation and will put on his armour and stand on his guard. When the clouds are gathering for a storm he takes the warning, and flies to the name of the Lord as his strong tower. Noah foresaw the deluge, Joseph the years of famine, and provided accordingly. 2. The mischief of rashness and inconsideration. The simple, who believe every word that flatters them, will believe none that warns them, and so they pass on and are punished. They venture upon sin, though they are told what will be in the end thereof; they throw themselves into trouble, notwithstanding the fair warning given them, and they repent their presumption when it is too late. See an instance of both these, Ex 9:20,21. Nothing is so fatal to precious souls as this, they will not take warning.
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