Proverbs 16:17

Proverbs 16:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
• New International Version (NIV)The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

Context of Proverbs 16:17

15When a king’s face lights up, there is life; his favor is like a cloud with spring rain. 16Get wisdom — how much better it is than gold! And get understanding — it is preferable to silver. The highway of the upright avoids evil; the one who guards his way protects his life. 18Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall. 19Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble than to divide plunder with the proud.

Proverbs 16:17 word by word

מְסִלַּ֣ת יְ֭שָׁרִים ס֣וּר מֵרָ֑ע שֹׁמֵ֥ר נַ֝פְשׁ֗וֹ נֹצֵ֥ר דַּרְכּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The highwayמְסִלָּהmesillâh · highwayH4546
• of the uprightיָשָׁרyâshâr · uprightH3477
• to departסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: departH5493
• from evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
• he that keepethנָצַרnâtsar · to watchH5341
• his wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
• preservethשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
• his soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315

Cross-references for Proverbs 16:17

• Proverbs 4:24Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don’t let your lips talk deviously.
• 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.
• Acts 10:35but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
• Acts 24:16I always strive to have a clear conscience toward God and men.
• Proverbs 10:9The one who lives with integrity lives securely, but whoever perverts his ways will be found out.
• Proverbs 19:16The one who keeps commands preserves himself; one who disregards his ways will die.
• Matthew 24:13But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
• Hebrews 10:39But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved.
• Jude 1:21keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life.
• Revelation 3:10Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

Commentaries on Proverbs 16:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17The highway of the upright - The upright man is ever departing from evil; this is his common road: and by keeping on in this way, his soul is preserved.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17Verse 17 A sincerely religious man keeps at a distance from every appearance of evil. Happy is the man that walks in Christ, and is led by the Spirit of Christ.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. The highway--A common, plain road represents the habitual course of the righteous in departing from evil. keepeth--observes.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 16:17

• Highways
• Holiness
• Watchfulness

In the dictionaries

• Chief
• Divine
• Haughty
• Lot
• Pride
• Whisperer
• Causeway; Causey
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of
• Way

Commentaries on Proverbs 16

• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings