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

biblegateway Pro 14:16

A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, But a fool is arrogant and careless.

A wise man is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool is easily angered and is careless.

A wise person is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is careless and overconfident.

biblegateway Pro 14:16

A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.

One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.

bibleoremus Pro 14:16

The wise are cautious and turn away from evil, but the fool throws off restraint and is careless.

One who is wise is cautious and avoids trouble, but one who is stupid is reckless and falls headlong.

biblegateway Pro 14:16

A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self–confident.

A wise [man] feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

biblegateway Pro 14:16

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

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.