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Proverbs 4:26-27
English Standard Version
Proverbs 4:26-27
English Standard Version
26 (A)Ponder[a] the path of your feet;
(B)then all your ways will be sure.
27 (C)Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:26 Or Make level
Proverbs 4:26-27
New English Translation
Proverbs 4:26-27
New English Translation
26 Make the path for your feet[a] level,[b]
so that[c] all your ways may be established.[d]
27 Do not turn[e] to the right or to the left;
turn yourself[f] away from evil.[g]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:26 tn Heb “path of your foot.”
- Proverbs 4:26 sn The verb is a denominative Piel from the word פֶּלֶס (peles), “balance; scale.” In addition to telling the disciple to keep focused on a righteous life, the sage tells him to keep his path level, which is figurative for living the righteous life.
- Proverbs 4:26 tn Following an imperative, a vav plus imperfect verb can depict purpose or result.
- Proverbs 4:26 tn The Niphal jussive from כּוּן (kun, “to be fixed; to be established; to be steadfast”) continues the idiom of walking and ways for the moral sense in life.
- Proverbs 4:27 sn The two verbs in this verse are from different roots, but nonetheless share the same semantic domain. The first verb is תֵּט (tet), a jussive from נָטָה (natah), which means “to turn aside” (Hiphil); the second verb is the Hiphil imperative of סוּר (sur), which means “to cause to turn to the side” (Hiphil). The disciple is not to leave the path of righteousness, but to stay on the path he must leave evil.
- Proverbs 4:27 tn Heb “your foot” (so NAB, NIV, NRSV). The term רַגְלְךָ (raglekha, “your foot”) is a synecdoche of part (= foot) for the whole person (= “yourself”).
- Proverbs 4:27 tc The LXX adds, “For the way of the right hand God knows, but those of the left hand are distorted; and he himself will make straight your paths and guide your goings in peace.” The ideas presented here are not out of harmony with Proverbs, but the section clearly shows an expansion by the translator. For a brief discussion of whether this addition is Jewish or early Christian, see C. H. Toy, Proverbs (ICC), 99.
Proverbs 4:26-27
New International Version
Proverbs 4:26-27
New International Version
Proverbs 4:26-27
King James Version
Proverbs 4:26-27
King James Version
26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
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Proverbs 15:26
English Standard Version
Proverbs 15:26
English Standard Version
Proverbs 15:26
New English Translation
Proverbs 15:26
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:26 tn Heb “an abomination of the Lord.” The term יְהוָה (yehvah, “the Lord”) functions as a subjective genitive: “the Lord abhors.”
- Proverbs 15:26 tn The noun מַחְשְׁבוֹת (makhshevot) means “thoughts” (so KJV, NIV, NLT), from the verb חָשַׁב (khashav, “to think; to reckon; to devise”). So these are intentions, what is being planned (cf. NAB “schemes”).
- Proverbs 15:26 tn The word רַע (raʿ, “evil, wicked”) is a genitive of source or subjective genitive, meaning the plans that the wicked devise—“wicked plans.”
- Proverbs 15:26 sn The contrast is between the “thoughts” and the “words.” The thoughts that are designed to hurt people the Lord hates; words that are pleasant (נֹעַם, noʿam), however, are pure (to him). What is pleasant is delightful, lovely, enjoyable.
- Proverbs 15:26 tc The MT simply has “but pleasant words are pure” (Heb “but pure [plural] are the words of pleasantness”). Some English versions add “to him” to make the connection to the first part (cf. NAB, NIV). The LXX has: “the sayings of the pure are held in honor.” The Vulgate has: “pure speech will be confirmed by him as very beautiful.” The NIV has paraphrased here: “but those of the pure are pleasing to him.”
Proverbs 15:26
New International Version
Proverbs 15:26
New International Version
Proverbs 15:26
King James Version
Proverbs 15:26
King James Version
26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
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Proverbs 16:2
English Standard Version
Proverbs 16:2
English Standard Version
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:2 Or spirits
Proverbs 16:2
New English Translation
Proverbs 16:2
New English Translation
2 All a person’s ways[a] seem right[b] in his own opinion,[c]
but the Lord evaluates[d] the motives.[e]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:2 tn Heb “ways of a man.”
- Proverbs 16:2 sn The Hebrew term translated “right” (זַךְ, zakh) means “pure, clear, clean” (cf. KJV, NASB “clean;” NIV “innocent;” ESV, NKJV, NLT, NRSV “pure.” It is used in the Bible for pure (uncontaminated) oils or undiluted liquids. Here it means uncontaminated actions and motives. It address how people naively conclude or rationalize that their actions are fine.
- Proverbs 16:2 tn Heb “in his eyes.” Physical sight is used figuratively for insight, or one’s intellectual point of view.
- Proverbs 16:2 tn The figure (a hypocatastasis) of “weighing” signifies “evaluation” (e.g., Exod 5:8; 1 Sam 2:3; 16:7; Prov 21:2; 24:12). There may be an allusion to the Egyptian belief of weighing the heart after death to determine righteousness. But in Hebrew thought it is an ongoing evaluation as well, not merely an evaluation after death.
- Proverbs 16:2 tn Heb “spirits” (so KJV, ASV). This is a metonymy for the motives, the intentions of the heart (e.g., 21:2 and 24:2). sn Humans deceive themselves rather easily and so appear righteous in their own eyes, but the proverb says that God evaluates motives and so he alone can determine if the person’s ways are innocent.
Proverbs 16:2
New International Version
Proverbs 16:2
New International Version
Proverbs 16:2
King James Version
Proverbs 16:2
King James Version
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.
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Proverbs 16:9
English Standard Version
Proverbs 16:9
English Standard Version
Proverbs 16:9
New English Translation
Proverbs 16:9
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:9 tn Heb “the mind of a man.” The term לֵב (lev, “mind, heart”) represents the person in this case (a synecdoche of a part for the whole) but highlights that faculty most relevant to the verb for planning.
- Proverbs 16:9 tn Heb “his way” (so KJV, NASB).
- Proverbs 16:9 tn The verb כּוּן (kun, “to establish; to confirm”) with צַעַד (tsaʿad, “step”) means “to direct” (e.g., Ps 119:133; Jer 10:23). This contrasts what people plan and what actually happens—God determines the latter.
- Proverbs 16:9 sn “Steps” is an implied comparison, along with “way,” to indicate the events of the plan as they work out.
Proverbs 16:9
New International Version
Proverbs 16:9
New International Version
9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.(A)
Proverbs 16:9
King James Version
Proverbs 16:9
King James Version
9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
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Proverbs 16:25
English Standard Version
Proverbs 16:25
English Standard Version
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.[a]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:25 Hebrew ways of death
Proverbs 16:25
New English Translation
Proverbs 16:25
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:25 tn Heb “which is straight before a man.”
- Proverbs 16:25 tn Heb “the ways of death.” See note at the identical saying in 14:12.
Proverbs 16:25
New International Version
Proverbs 16:25
New International Version
Proverbs 16:25
King James Version
Proverbs 16:25
King James Version
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
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Proverbs 16:33
English Standard Version
Proverbs 16:33
English Standard Version
Proverbs 16:33
New English Translation
Proverbs 16:33
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:33 tn Heb “the lot is cast.” Because the ancient practice of “casting lots” is unfamiliar to many modern readers, the imagery has been updated to “throwing dice.”sn The proverb concerns the practice of seeking divine leading through casting lots. For a similar lesson, see Amenemope (18, 19:16-17, in ANET 423).
- Proverbs 16:33 tn Heb “all its decision.”
- Proverbs 16:33 sn The point concerns seeking God’s will through the practice. The Lord gives guidance in decisions that are submitted to him.
Proverbs 16:33
New International Version
Proverbs 16:33
New International Version
Proverbs 16:33
King James Version
Proverbs 16:33
King James Version
33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.
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Proverbs 19:2
English Standard Version
Proverbs 19:2
English Standard Version
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:2 Or A soul
Proverbs 19:2
New English Translation
Proverbs 19:2
New English Translation
2 It is dangerous[a] to have zeal[b] without knowledge,
and the one who acts hastily[c] makes poor choices.[d]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:2 tn Heb “not good.” This is a figure known as tapeinosis (a deliberate understatement to emphasize a worst-case scenario): “it is dangerous!”
- Proverbs 19:2 tn The interpretation of this line depends largely on the meaning of נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) which has a broad range of meanings: (1) the breathing substance of man, (2) living being, (3) life, (4) person, (5) seat of the appetites, (6) seat of emotions and passions, (7) activities of intellect, emotion and will, (8) moral character, etc. (BDB 659-61 s.v.). In light of the synonymous parallelism, the most likely nuance here is “zeal, passion” (HALOT 713 s.v. 8). NIV takes the word in the sense of “vitality” and “drive”—“it is not good to have zeal without knowledge” (cf. NCV, TEV, and NLT which are all similar).
- Proverbs 19:2 tn Heb “he who is hasty with his feet.” The verb אוּץ (ʾuts) means “to be pressed; to press; to make haste.” The verb is followed by the preposition ב (bet) which indicates that with which one hastens—his feet. The word “feet” is a synecdoche of part for the whole person—body and mind working together (cf. NLT “a person who moves too quickly”).
- Proverbs 19:2 tn Heb “misses the goal.” The participle חוֹטֵא (khoteʾ) can be translated “sins” (cf. KJV, ASV), but in this context it refers only to actions without knowledge, which could lead to sin, or could lead simply to making poor choices (cf. NAB “blunders”; NASB “errs”; NCV “might make a mistake”). sn The basic meaning of the verb is “to miss a goal or the way.” D. Kidner says, “How negative is the achievement of a man who wants tangible and quick rewards”—he will miss the way (Proverbs [TOTC], 132).
Proverbs 19:2
New International Version
Proverbs 19:2
New International Version
2 Desire without knowledge is not good—
how much more will hasty feet miss the way!(A)
Proverbs 19:2
King James Version
Proverbs 19:2
King James Version
2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
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English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New English Translation (NET)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.