Prudence

Prudence is careful, sensible judgment in what one says and does. This page lists verses on foreseeing danger, thinking before acting, guarded speech, seeking counsel, caution with pledges and debts, discretion, and walking wisely.

Foreseeing danger

• Proverbs 22:3
  A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
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• Proverbs 14:15-16
  ¹⁵The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps. ¹⁶A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.
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• Proverbs 6:6-8
  ⁶Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. ⁷Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, ⁸Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.
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• Luke 14:28-30
  ²⁸For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it? ²⁹Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, ³⁰Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’
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Thinking before acting

• Proverbs 14:8
  The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
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• Proverbs 13:16
  Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
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• Proverbs 19:2
  Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.
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• Proverbs 21:5
  The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
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• Proverbs 25:8
  Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
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• Proverbs 4:26
  Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
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Guarded speech

• Proverbs 12:23
  A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself, but a foolish heart proclaims its folly.
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• Proverbs 10:19
  In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
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• Proverbs 17:27-28
  ²⁷He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit. ²⁸Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
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• Proverbs 21:23
  Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
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• Proverbs 29:11
  A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back.
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• Psalm 39:1
  I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.I said, “I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present.”
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Seeking counsel

• Proverbs 15:22
  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
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• Proverbs 20:18
  Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
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• Proverbs 24:6
  For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.
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• Proverbs 12:15
  The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.
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• Proverbs 18:15
  The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
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Caution with pledges and debts

• Proverbs 6:1-5
  ¹My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger, ²Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth, ³Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.then do this, my son, to free yourself, for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go, humble yourself, and press your plea with your neighbor. ⁴Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids. ⁵Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
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• Proverbs 11:15
  He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.He who puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but the one who hates indebtedness is secure.
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• Proverbs 17:18
  A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
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• Proverbs 22:7
  The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
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• Proverbs 22:26-27
  ²⁶Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts. ²⁷If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
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Discretion

• Proverbs 2:11
  Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you,
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• Proverbs 3:21-23
  ²¹My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment. ²²So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck. ²³Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
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• Proverbs 19:11
  The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
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• Proverbs 11:22
  As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
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• Psalm 112:5
  A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely, whose affairs are guided by justice.
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Walking wisely

• Matthew 10:16
  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
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• Ephesians 5:15-16
  ¹⁵See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
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• Colossians 4:5
  Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.
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• Hosea 14:9
  Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them.
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• Proverbs 8:12
  I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
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See also

• Wisdom
• Counsel
• Foolishness
• Debt
• Plans and the future
• Rashness

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.