Proverbs 26:12

26:12 Do you see ¹  a man wise in his own eyes? ² 

There is more hope for a fool ³  than for him.

Isaiah 5:21

5:21 Those who think they are wise are as good as dead, ⁴ 

those who think they possess understanding. ⁵ 

Romans 12:16

12:16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. ⁶  Do not be conceited. ⁷ 

[26:12]  ¹ tn The verse simply uses a perfect tense. The meaning of the verse would be the same if this were interpreted as an affirmation rather than as an interrogative. The first line calls such a person to one’s attention.

[26:12]  ² tn Heb “in his own eyes” (so NAB, NASB, NIV).

[26:12]  ³ sn Previous passages in the book of Proverbs all but deny the possibility of hope for the fool. So this proverb is saying there is absolutely no hope for the self-conceited person, and there might be a slight hope for the fool – he may yet figure out that he really is a fool.

[5:21]  ⁴ tn Heb “Woe [to] the wise in their own eyes.” See the note at v. 8.

[5:21]  ⁵ tn Heb “[who] before their faces are understanding.”

[12:16]  ⁷ tn Or “but give yourselves to menial tasks.” The translation depends on whether one takes the adjective “lowly” as masculine or neuter.

[12:16]  ⁸ tn Grk “Do not be wise in your thinking.”