Proverbs 27.12
“The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.”
The “prudent” (arum, a word associated with “wisdom”) and the “simple” (peti, a word associated with “folly”) are differentiated based on their ability to navigate the situations of life. Wise people look ahead and avoid problems. On the other hand, foolish people just plunge ahead and suffer the consequences of their foolish actions.
This verse is a repeat of Proverbs 22.3. The message is that God has created a cause-and-effect world where choices have consequences. We are free to make whatever choices we want, but we are not free from the outcome of those choices. Wise people understand the following:
- Choices always have consequences. Always.
- Think about consequences before you act because you will experience the consequences after you act.
- Don’t equate the delay of consequences with the absence of them.
It is for this reason that wise people think before they act. They press pause, think, and gain clarity. They recognize when there is risk or danger, and they “hide themselves,” which means they avoid the risk. They steer clear of the danger.
Foolish people, however, do not press pause. They do not stop and think. They do not consider consequences, and they rush headlong into the danger. They suffer because of it.
Much of life is a battle between impulsive emotion and disciplined thinking. Impulsive emotion doesn’t consider consequences. Disciplined thinking does. An old saying that I heard many years ago applies here: Stupid is supposed to hurt.
