The Men of Proverbs: The Wise Man Dictionary "WISE": Properly having knowledge: hence havmg the power of discerning and judging correctly, or of discrirninating between what is true and what is false. The discrete use or application of knowledge.
Hebrew "WISE": To be wise in rnind, word, or act. Note: Knowledge + Understanding = Wisdom (Proverbs 2:6)
I. Actions of the Wise Man
A. Listens.
“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:” (Prov 1:5)
B. Accepts Correction.
1. “Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.” (Prov 9:8)
2. “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” (Prov 9:9)
3. “The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.” (Prov 15:31)
4. “A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.” (Prov 17:10)
5. “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” (Prov 29:15)
C. Prepares.
“He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.” (Prov 10:5)
D. Follows instruction.
1. “The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.” (Prov 10:8)
2. “A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.” (Prov 13:1)
3. “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.” (Prov 19:20)
E. Gains Knowledge.
1. “Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.” (Prov 10:14)
F. Refrains his tongue.
1. “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” (Prov 10:19)
2. “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.” (Prov 17:28)
3. “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.” (Prov 29:11)
G. Wins Souls.
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” (Prov 11:30)
H. Hearkens to Counsel.
1. “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” (Prov 12:15)
2. “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” (Prov 13:10)
3. “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.” (Prov 19:20)
I. Walks with wise men.
“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” (Prov 13:20)
J. Departs from evil.
“A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.” (Prov 14:16)
K. Abstains from liquor.
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” (Prov 20:1)
L. Obeys God's Law.
“Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.” (Prov 28:7)
M. Gets Understanding.
1. “Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.” (Prov 8:14)
2. “In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.” (Prov 10:13)
3. “It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.” (Prov 10:23)
4. “Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.” (Prov 14:33)
5. “Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.” (Prov 17:24)
N. Fears God.
1. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (Prov 9:10)
2. “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.” (Prov 14:8)
3. “The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.” (Prov 16:21)
O. Shows Respect for Others.
“He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.” (Prov 11:12)
P. Knows Prudence (discretion).
1. “I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.” (Prov 8:12)
2. “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.” (Prov 14:8)
3. “The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.” (Prov 16:21)
II. Characteristics of the Wise Man.
A. Fair and Just.
1. “The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.” (Prov 10:31)
2. “These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.” (Prov 24:23)
B. Patient.
“Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.” (Prov 29:8)
C. Humble.
“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.” (Prov 11:2)
III. Consequences of the Wise Man.
A. Receives Honour
1. “Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.” (Prov 3:16)
2. “The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.” (Prov 3:35)
B. Has a Glad Father.
1. “The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.” (Prov 10:1)
2. “A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.” (Prov 15:20)
3. “My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.” (Prov 23:15)
4. “The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.” (Prov 23:24)
5. “My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.” (Prov 27:11)
6. “Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.” (Prov 29:3)
C. Obtains Favour.
1. “For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.” (Prov 8:35)
2. “The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.” (Prov 14:35)
3. “He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.” (Prov 16:20)
D. Has Length of Days.
“Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.” (Prov 3:16)
E. Possesses Riches.
“Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.” (Prov 3:16)
F. Has Ways of Peace and Pleasantness.
“Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” (Prov 3:17)
G. Has Happiness.
1. “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” (Prov 3:13)
2. “She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.” (Prov 3:18)
H. Is Protected.
“Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.” (Prov 4:6)
I. Is Rewarded.
“So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.” (Prov 24:14)
J. Is Delivered.
“He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.” (Prov 28:26)