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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
• New Living Translation (NLT)The path of the virtuous leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe.

Context of Proverbs 16:17

15In the light of a king's face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain. 16How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life. 18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil 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 4:24Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.
• Isaiah 35:8And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.
• Acts 10:35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
• Acts 24:16So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
• Proverbs 10:9Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
• Proverbs 19:16Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die.
• Matthew 24:13But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
• Hebrews 10:39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
• Jude 1:21keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
• Revelation 3:10Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell 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