God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 15:19
19The path of lazy people is like a thorny hedge, but the road of decent people is an ⌞open⌟ 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 to have a dish of vegetables where there is love than juicy steaks where there is hate. 18A hothead stirs up a fight, but one who holds his temper calms disputes. The path of lazy people is like a thorny hedge, but the road of decent people is an ⌞open⌟ highway. 20A wise son makes his father happy, but a foolish child despises its mother. 21Stupidity is fun to the one without much sense, but a person who has understanding forges straight ahead.
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 22:5A devious person has thorns and traps ahead of him. Whoever guards himself will stay far away from them.
- Proverbs 26:13A lazy person says, “There’s a ferocious lion out on the road! There’s a lion loose in the streets!”
- Numbers 14:1Then all the people in the Israelite community raised their voices and cried out loud all that night.
- Proverbs 3:6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths smooth.
- Proverbs 8:9All of it is clear to a person who has understanding and right to those who have acquired knowledge.
- Psalms 5:8O Lord, lead me in your righteousness because of those who spy on me. Make your way in front of me smooth.
- Psalms 25:8The Lord is good and decent. That is why he teaches sinners the way they should live.
- Psalms 27:11Teach me your way, O Lord. Lead me on a level path because I have enemies who spy on me.
- Isaiah 30:21You will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way. Follow it, whether it turns to the right or to the left.”
- Isaiah 35:8A highway will be there, a roadway. It will be called the Holy Road. Sinners won’t travel on it. It will be for those who walk on it. Godless fools won’t wander ⌞onto it⌟.
- Isaiah 57:14It will be said: “Build a road! Build a road! Prepare the way! Remove every obstacle in the way of my people!”
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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