Proverbs 14:16

A wise person is cautious ¹  and turns from evil, but a fool throws off restraint ²  and is overconfident. ³ 

Ge 33:9; Ge 42:18; 1Ki 19:2; 1Ki 20:10,11,18; Ne 5:15; Job 31:21-23; Ps 119:120; Pr 3:7; Pr 7:22; Pr 16:6,17; Pr 22:3; Pr 28:14; Pr 29:9; Ec 10:13; Mr 6:17-19,24,25; Joh 9:40; 1Th 5:22

¹ tn Heb “fears.” Since the holy name (Yahweh, translated “the Lord”) is not used, it probably does not here mean fear of the Lord, but of the consequences of actions.

² tn The Hitpael of עָבַר (’avar, “to pass over”) means “to pass over the bounds of propriety; to act insolently” (BDB 720 s.v.; cf. ASV “beareth himself insolently”).

³ tn The verb בָּטַח here denotes self-assurance or overconfidence. Fools are not cautious and do not fear the consequences of their actions.