A Prudent Man Foresees Evil and Hides - Proverbs 27:12

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproaches me”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse twelve of Proverbs Solomon said, “a prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself” where we read,

A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself;

but the simple pass on, and are punished.

The verse begins, “A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself;” Solomon began with the words, “a prudent man”or “a subtle, shrewd and sensible person whether male or female” “foresees the evil” which means “sees, looks at, perceives and considers the bad, disagreeableness, malignancy and wickedness”, “and hides himself” or “and conceals or makes secret and absent his, the prudent person's, own self”. Solomon said the person who is shrewd and sensible perceives wickedness and makes themselves absent or concealed from it. 

The verse goes on to say, “but the simple pass on, and are punished.” Solomon continued with the words, “but the simple” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the person whether male or female who is foolish, silly and naive” “pass on” which means “carry forward, traverse and advance”, “and are punished” or “and exist as condemned, mulcted, fined and with penalty”. Solomon said the foolish person continues forward when they perceive“evil” and are fined and condemned within it. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon what we are to do when we perceive wickedness – conceal ourselves or be absent from it altogether. God knew wickedness and evil would exist within the world when Adam and Eve were in the garden of Eden (See Genesis 3), and when they partook of the fruit, they and everyone who was born after them were subjected to wickedness and sin. God knew we would sin, and that sin not only causes death but it also keeps us from a personal relationship with Him. (See Romans 3:23; 6:23) He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield our lives to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us the wisdom not only to perceive “evil” but also to avoid it and the punishment that accompanies it. 

Next time Solomon says, “take his garment that is surety for a stranger”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".