New English Translation
Proverbs 4:19
19The way of the wicked is like gloomy darkness; they do not know what causes them to stumble.
Proverbs 4:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
- New International Version (NIV)But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.
Context of Proverbs 4:19
17For they eat bread gained from wickedness and drink wine obtained from violence. 18But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, growing brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like gloomy darkness; they do not know what causes them to stumble. 20My child, pay attention to my words; listen attentively to my sayings. 21Do not let them depart from your sight, guard them within your heart;
Read all of Proverbs 4Proverbs 4:19 word by word
דֶּ֣רֶךְ רְ֭שָׁעִים כָּֽאֲפֵלָ֑ה לֹ֥א יָ֝דְע֗וּ בַּמֶּ֥ה יִכָּשֵֽׁלוּ׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 4:19
- 1 Samuel 2:9He watches over his holy ones, but the wicked are made speechless in the darkness, for it is not by one’s own strength that one prevails.
- Job 5:14They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope about in the noontime as if it were night.
- Job 12:25They grope about in darkness without light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.
- Job 18:5“Yes, the lamp of the wicked is extinguished; his flame of fire does not shine.
- Isaiah 59:9For this reason deliverance is far from us and salvation does not reach us. We wait for light, but see only darkness; we wait for a bright light, but live in deep darkness.
- Jeremiah 13:16Show the Lord your God the respect that is due him. Do it before he brings the darkness of disaster. Do it before you stumble into distress like a traveler on the mountains at twilight. Do it before he turns the light of deliverance you hope for into the darkness and gloom of exile.
- Jeremiah 23:12So the paths they follow will be dark and slippery. They will stumble and fall headlong. For I will bring disaster on them. A day of reckoning is coming for them.” The Lord affirms it!
- Matthew 7:23Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’
- Matthew 15:14Leave them! They are blind guides. If someone who is blind leads another who is blind, both will fall into a pit.”
- John 12:35Jesus replied, “The light is with you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
- 1 John 2:11But the one who hates his fellow Christian is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Commentaries on Proverbs 4:19
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4-20Verses 4-20 The counsel which has come to him, in substance, from his father. Compare it with 2 Samuel 23:2 etc.; 1 Chronicles 28:9; 1 Chronicles 29:17; Psalm 15:1-5; Psalm 24:1-10; Proverbs 4:7 Or, “The beginning of wisdom is - get wisdom.” To seek is to find, to desire is to obtain. Proverbs 4:12 The ever-recurring parable of the journey of life. In the way of wisdom the path is clear and open, obstacles disappear; in the quickest activity (“when thou…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-27Verses 14-27 The way of evil men may seem pleasant, and the nearest way to compass some end; but it is an evil way, and will end ill; if thou love thy God and thy soul, avoid it. It is not said, Keep at a due distance, but at a great distance; never think you can get far enough from it. The way of the righteous is light; Christ is their Way, and he is the Light. The saints will not be perfect till they reach heaven, but there they shall shine as the sun…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-19Light symbolizes wisdom and righteousness, while darkness represents foolishness and wickedness (see Ecclesiastes 2:12–14). Light reveals actions; darkness conceals them. Righteous people have nothing to hide, but the wicked try to hide their actions and stumble over obstacles in the dark (see Matthew 4:16; 5:14–16; John 1:14; Romans 2:19).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-1918-19. As shining light increases from twilight to noonday splendor, so the course of the just increases in purity, but that of the wicked is as thickest darkness, in which one knows not on what he stumbles.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 4:19
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 4
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries