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 there is life, and his favor like a cloud of spring rain. 16How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver. The highway of the upright avoids evil. He who guards his way protects his life. 18Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19Better to be lowly in spirit with the afflicted than to share 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 perversity from your mouth, and keep devious lips far from you.
• Isaiah 35:8A highway will be there—a roadway. It will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it. It is for the one who walks the way. Fools will not go astray.
• Acts 10:35but in every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him.
• Acts 24:16“Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience before both God and men.
• Proverbs 10:9One who walks in integrity, walks securely, but one who takes crooked paths will be discovered.
• Proverbs 19:16One who keeps a mitzvah guards his soul, but one who neglects His ways will die.
• Matthew 24:13But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
• Hebrews 10:39But we are not among the timid ones on the path to destruction, but among the faithful ones on the path to the preservation of the soul.
• Jude 1:21Keep yourselves in the love of God, eagerly waiting for the mercy of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah that leads to eternal life.
• Revelation 3:10“Because you have kept My word about patient endurance, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world to test 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