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
12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
This we had before, Pr 22:3. Note, 1. Evil may be foreseen. Where there is temptation, it is easy to foresee that if we thrust ourselves into it there will be sin, and as easy to foresee that if we venture upon the evil of sin there will follow the evil of punishment; and, commonly, God warns before he wounds, having set watchmen over us, Jer 6:17. 2. It will be well or ill with us according as we do or do not improve the foresight we have of evil before us: The prudent man, foreseeing the evil, forecasts accordingly, and hides himself, but the simple is either so dull that he does not foresee it or so wilful and slothful that he will take no care to avoid it, and so he passes on securely and is punished. We do well for ourselves when we provide for hereafter.
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