Proverbs 10: 8 The Wise Listen...

Today’s verse contrasts another side of wisdom compared to foolishness.


Proverbs 10: 8 (NKJV)


8 The wise in heart will receive commands,

But a prating fool will fall.


A couple of the definitions of “command” is 1. an authoritative instruction that something must be done 2. the authority to command. People who are wise, and have made God’s wisdom a part of their hearts and minds, will realize that His is the ultimate authority in this life, and in the afterlife. They will know that He only asks things of them that will bring good things their way because He loves them. They CHOSE to follow the authoritative instructions of what HE says NEEDS to be done, because they trust in His ultimate love for them.

The definition of “prating” or to “prate” is to: To talk idly and at length; chatter. Speak empty, foolish, or trivial talk; idle chatter. I think women tend to call this "gossip" and men tend to call it "shooting the bull..." As we saw in the preceding paragraph, the wise person has made God’s wisdom a part of their lives and speak to His ways. This part of the verse tells us that foolish people (those that refuse to acknowledge God or His authority in their lives) speak of only empty, foolish or trivial things that help no one. These people will ultimately fail or “fall.”