King James Version

Proverbs 14:8

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

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Hebrew

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חָכְמַ֣תchakhematwisdomחׇכְמָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “wisdom”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH2451wisdom (in a good sense)skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit.עָ֭רוּםarumcraftyעָרוּםadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “crafty”, the ordinary formH6175cunning (usually in a bad sense)crafty, prudent, subtil.הָבִ֣יןhavinunderstandבִּיןverb, hiphil, infinitive construct — “understand”, the to-form of the verbH995to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understandattend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) und…דַּרְכּ֑וֹdarkvoalongדֶּרֶךְnoun, common, both genders, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “along”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1870a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverbalong, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever).וְאִוֶּ֖לֶתveiveletand follyאִוֶּלֶתconjunction, noun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “and folly”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH200sillinessfolly, foolishly(-ness).כְּסִילִ֣יםkesilimfoolכְּסִילadjective, adjective, masculine, plural, absolute — “fool”, the ordinary formH3684properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or sillyfool(-ish).מִרְמָֽהmirmahcraftמִרְמָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “craft”, the ordinary formH4820fraudcraft, deceit(-ful, -fully), false, feigned, guile, subtilly, treachery.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

The wisdom of the prudent is to look well to his way; but the folly of fools is deceit.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.

Young’s Literal Translation

The wisdom of the prudent [is] to understand his way, And the folly of fools [is] deceit.

World English Bible

The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.

Darby Translation

The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way; but the folly of the foolish is deceit.

Douay-Rheims

The wisdom of a. discreet man is to understand his way: and the imprudence of fools erreth.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

The wisdom of the prudent is to look well to his way; but the folly of fools is deceit.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

The wisdom of the prudent will understand their ways; but the folly of fools leads astray.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Σοφία πανούργων ἐπιγνώσεται τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῶν, ἄνοια δὲ ἀφρόνων ἐν πλάνῃ.