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

15In the light of a king’s face is life, And his favor is like a cloud with the spring rain. 16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver. The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil; One who watches his way protects his life. 18Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. 19It is better to be humble in spirit with the needy Than to divide the spoils with the proud.

Proverbs 16:17 word by word

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

• highwayמְסִלָּהmesillâh · highwayH4546
• of the uprightיָשָׁרyâshâr · uprightH3477
• is to turnסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: departH5493
• awayסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: departH5493
• from evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
• One who watchesנָצַרnâtsar · to watchH5341
• his wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
• protectsשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
• lifeנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315

Cross-references for Proverbs 16:17

• Proverbs 4:24Rid yourself of a deceitful mouth And keep devious speech far from you.
• Isaiah 35:8A highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for the one who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it.
• Acts 10:35but in every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him.
• Acts 24:16In view of this I also do my best to maintain a blameless conscience both before God and before other people, always.
• Proverbs 10:9One who walks in integrity walks securely, But one who perverts his ways will be found out.
• Proverbs 19:16One who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But one who is careless of conduct will die.
• Matthew 24:13But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved.
• Hebrews 10:39But we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith for the safekeeping of the soul.
• Jude 1:21keep yourselves in the love of God, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
• Revelation 3:10Because you have kept My word of perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of the testing, that hour which is about to come upon 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