Verses 15-16 contrast a foolish person with a wise person.

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes”: “Way” refers here to the attitude or conduct of the fool. The “fool”, expressed by several different words, is the theme of many sayings in Proverbs. The word used here was first used in 1.7. See there for comments. “Right in his own eyes” means the fool thinks his opinions and ways of acting are not in need of correction or improvement. Scott says “A fool is cocksure about what he is doing.” Contemporary English Version says “Fools think they know what is best,” and Bible en français courant “The fool always thinks that he acts correctly.” See Good News Translation. We may also say, for example, “Foolish people do not think they make mistakes” or “Whatever a fool thinks, he believes it is correct.”

“But a wise man listens to advice”: This line is literally “but one listening to counsel [is] wise.” Revised Standard Version makes “a wise man” the subject of the clause to parallel “the way of the fool” in line 1, as do many other English versions. “Listens” means “pays attention” or “takes advice” (see “hear” in 1.8). “Advice” refers to the opinions of others about what can or should be done (see “counsel” in 1.25). “Listens to advice” is sometimes rendered, for example, “accepts the words,” “allows others to tell him what they think,” “puts his ear on what they say,” or “listens to the whispered words.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .