Proverbs 12:15 - Exposition

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; i.e. in his own judgment ( Proverbs 3:7 : Proverbs 16:2 ). The second clause is best translated, as in the Revised Version, "But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel," distrusting his own unaided judgment, which might lead him astray ( Proverbs 13:10 ; Proverbs 14:12 ; Proverbs 16:25 ; Proverbs 21:2 ; comp. Ec 35:19; Tobit 4:18). Theognis, 221, etc.—

ὅς τις τοι δοκέει τὸν πλησίον ἴδμεναι οὐδὲν

ἀλλ αὐτὸς μοῦνος ποικίλα δήνε ἔχειν

κεῖνός γ ἄφρων ἐστὶ νόου βεβλαμμένος ἐσθλοῦ

ἴσως γὰρ πάντες ποικίλ ἐπιστάμεθα

"Who thinks his neighbour nothing knows,

And he alone can see,

Is but a fool, for we perhaps

Know even more than he."