Proverbios 14:16

16 El sabio teme, y se aparta del mal; mas el loco se arrebata, y confía

Proverbios 14:16 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 14:16

A wise [man] feareth, and departeth from evil
He fears God, and is careful not to offend him; wherefore he departs from sin, stands at a distance from it, abstains from all appearance of it; being influenced by the goodness and grace of God unto him, he fears the Lord and his goodness, and therefore avoids all occasions of sinning against him: his motive is not merely fear of punishment, as Jarchi, but a sense of goodness; and now, as it is through the influence of divine fear that men depart from evil; so to do this shows a good understanding, and that such a man is a wise man, ( Proverbs 16:6 ) ( Job 28:28 ) ; but the fool rageth, and is confident;
he fears neither God nor men, he sets his mouth against both; he "rages" in heart, if not with his mouth, against God and his law, which forbid the practice of such sins he delights in; and against all good men, that admonish him of them, rebuke him for them, or dissuade him from them: and "is confident" that no evil shall befall him; he has no concern about a future state, and is fearless of hell and damnation, though just upon the precipice of ruin; yet, as the words may be rendered, "he goes on confidently", nothing can stop him; he pushes on, regardless of the laws of God or men, of the advices and counsels of his friends, or of what will be the issue of his desperate courses in another world.

Proverbios 14:16 In-Context

14 De sus caminos será harto el desviado de corazón; y el hombre de bien será apartado de él

15 El simple cree a toda palabra; mas el entendido entiende sus pasos

16 El sabio teme, y se aparta del mal; mas el loco se arrebata, y confía

17 El que presto se enoja, hará locura; y el hombre malicioso será aborrecido

18 Los simples heredarán la locura; mas los cuerdos se coronarán de sabiduría