New Living Translation
Proverbs 15:19
19A lazy person’s way is blocked with briers, but the path of the upright 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
17A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate. 18A hot-tempered person starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them. A lazy person’s way is blocked with briers, but the path of the upright is an open highway. 20Sensible children bring joy to their father; foolish children despise their mother. 21Foolishness brings joy to those with no sense; a sensible person stays on the right path.
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 22:5Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will avoid it.
- Proverbs 26:13The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”
- Numbers 14:1Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night.
- Proverbs 3:6Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
- Proverbs 8:9My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge.
- Psalms 5:8Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow.
- Psalms 25:8The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
- Psalms 27:11Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me.
- Isaiah 30:21Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.
- Isaiah 35:8And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there.
- Isaiah 57:14God says, “Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so my people can return from captivity.”
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
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