Bible Strands
Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — A wisdom instructor addresses a student in the context of general instruction, not a narrative moment. The verse sits between observations on speech (12:14) and anger (12:16), framing a contrast on self-perception.
The words — דֶּרֶךְ (De.rekh, "way") and עֵצָה ('e.Tzah, "counsel") form the antithesis: the fool's path is self-contained, the wise man's is open to external input.
The thread — Proverbs 3:7 states the principle directly ("Be not wise in your own eyes"), and Proverbs 19:20 presses the same demand: "Listen to counsel and accept discipline." Proverbs 14:16 extends the pattern to action, where the wise man turns from evil and the fool is reckless.
Why it lands — It asks the reader to treat self-evident correctness as a warning sign, not a credential. The test of wisdom is not what you conclude but whether you can still be corrected.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
- Proverbs 14:16 A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.
- Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.
- Proverbs 26:12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
- Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
- Proverbs 16:2 All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.
- Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
- Proverbs 1:5 let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
- Proverbs 9:9 Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
- Galatians 6:3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.