Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 15:19
19A slacker’s way is like a thorny hedge, but the path of the upright is a highway.
Proverbs 15:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
- New International Version (NIV)The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway.
Context of Proverbs 15:19
17Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred. 18A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but one slow to anger calms strife. A slacker’s way is like a thorny hedge, but the path of the upright is a highway. 20A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother. 21Foolishness brings joy to one without sense, but a person with understanding walks a straight path.
Read all of Proverbs 15Proverbs 15:19 word by word
דֶּ֣רֶךְ עָ֭צֵל כִּמְשֻׂ֣כַת חָ֑דֶק וְאֹ֖רַח יְשָׁרִ֣ים סְלֻלָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 15:19
- Proverbs 22:5There are thorns and snares on the way of the crooked; the one who guards himself stays far from them.
- Proverbs 26:13The slacker says, “There’s a lion in the road — a lion in the public square!”
- Numbers 14:1Then the whole community broke into loud cries, and the people wept that night.
- Proverbs 3:6in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.
- Proverbs 8:9All of them are clear to the perceptive, and right to those who discover knowledge.
- Psalms 5:8Lord, lead me in your righteousness because of my adversaries; make your way straight before me.
- Psalms 25:8The Lord is good and upright; therefore he shows sinners the way.
- Psalms 27:11Because of my adversaries, show me your way, Lord, and lead me on a level path.
- Isaiah 30:21and whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.”
- Isaiah 35:8A road will be there and a way; it will be called the Holy Way. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for the one who walks the path. Fools will not wander on it.
- Isaiah 57:14He said, “Build it up, build it up, prepare the way, remove every obstacle from my people’s way.”
Commentaries on Proverbs 15:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns - Because he is slothful, he imagines ten thousand difficulties in the way which cannot be surmounted; but they are all the creatures of his own imagination, and that imagination is formed by his sloth.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19The slothful goes on his journey, and for him the path is thick set with thorns, briars, fences, through which he cannot force his way. For the “righteous” (better, upright), the same path is as the broad raised causeway of the king‘s highway. Compare Isaiah 40:3.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19Verse 19 Those who have no heart to their work, pretend that they cannot do their work without hardship and danger. And thus many live always in doubt about their state, because always in neglect of some duty.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19A lazy person can find many excuses, like a path blocked with briers, to avoid work (see Proverbs 10:4, 26; 12:11, 14; 13:4; 14:4).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. The difficulties of the slothful result from want of energy; the righteous find a plain [and open] way--literally, "a highway," by diligence (1Sa 10:7; Psa 1:3).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 15:19
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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