26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
Here is, 1. The character of a fool: He trusts to his own heart, to his own wisdom and counsels, his own strength and sufficiency, his own merit and righteousness, and the good opinion he has of himself; he that does so is a fool, for he trusts to that, not only which is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9), but which has often deceived him. This implies that it is the character of a wise man (as before, Proverbs 28:25 Proverbs 28:25) to put his trust in the Lord, and in his power and promise, and to follow his guidance, Proverbs 3:5; Proverbs 3:6. 2. The comfort of a wise man: He that walks wisely, that trusts not to his own heart, but is humble and self-diffident, and goes on in the strength of the Lord God, he shall be delivered; when the fool, that trusts in his own heart, shall be destroyed.