Proverbs 4:14-27

¹⁴ Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. ¹⁵ Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. ¹⁶ For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble. ¹⁷ They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. ¹⁸ The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. ¹⁹ But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

²⁰ My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. ²¹ Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; ²² for they are life to those who find them and health to one's whole body. ²³ Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. ²⁴ Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. ²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. ²⁶ Give careful thought to the [1] paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. ²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

< Proverbs 3Proverbs 4Proverbs 5 >

Other Translations of Proverbs 4:14-27

King James Version

¹⁴ Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. ¹⁵ Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. ¹⁶ For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. ¹⁷ For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. ¹⁸ But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. ¹⁹ The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

²⁰ My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. ²¹ Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. ²² For they are life unto those that find them, and health health: Heb. medicine to all their flesh. ²³ Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. ²⁴ Put away from thee a froward a froward...: Heb. frowardness of mouth and perverseness of lips mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. ²⁵ Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. ²⁶ Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. ²⁷ Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

English Standard Version

¹⁴ Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. ¹⁵ Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. ¹⁶ For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. ¹⁷ For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. ¹⁸ But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. ¹⁹ The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

²⁰ My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. ²¹ Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. ²² For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all theirHebrew his flesh. ²³ Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. ²⁴ Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. ²⁵ Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. ²⁶ PonderOr Make level the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. ²⁷ Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

The Message

¹⁴ Don't take Wicked Bypass; don't so much as set foot on that road. ¹⁵ Stay clear of it; give it a wide berth. Make a detour and be on your way. ¹⁶ Evil people are restless unless they're making trouble; They can't get a good night's sleep unless they've made life miserable for somebody. ¹⁷ Perversity is their food and drink, violence their drug of choice. ¹⁸ The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine. ¹⁹ But the road of wrongdoing gets darker and darker - travelers can't see a thing; they fall flat on their faces. Learn It by Heart

²⁰ Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. ²¹ Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! ²² Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they're bursting with health. ²³ Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. ²⁴ Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. ²⁵ Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. ²⁶ Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. ²⁷ Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.

New King James Version

¹⁴ Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. ¹⁵ Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on. ¹⁶ For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. ¹⁷ For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence. ¹⁸ But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. ¹⁹ The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.

²⁰ My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. ²¹ Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; ²² For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. ²³ Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. ²⁴ Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. ²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. ²⁶ Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. ²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.

New Living Translation

¹⁴ Don't do as the wicked do, and don't follow the path of evildoers. ¹⁵ Don't even think about it; don't go that way. Turn away and keep moving. ¹⁶ For evil people can't sleep until they've done their evil deed for the day. They can't rest until they've caused someone to stumble. ¹⁷ They eat the food of wickedness and drink the wine of violence! ¹⁸ The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. ¹⁹ But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over.

²⁰ My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. ²¹ Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, ²² for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. ²³ Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. ²⁴ Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. ²⁵ Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. ²⁶ Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. ²⁷ Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 4:14-27

Commentary on Proverbs 4:14-27

(Read Proverbs 4:14-27)

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 in his strength. The way of sin is as darkness. The way of the wicked is dark, therefore dangerous; they fall into sin, but know not how to avoid it. They fall into trouble, but never seek to know wherefore God contends with them, nor what will be in the end of it. This is the way we are bid to shun. Attentive hearing the word of God, is a good sign of a work of grace begun in the heart, and a good means of carrying it on. There is in the word of God a proper remedy for all diseases of the soul. Keep thy heart with all diligence. We must set a strict guard upon our souls; keep our hearts from doing hurt, and getting hurt. A good reason is given; because out of it are the issues of life. Above all, we should seek from the Lord Jesus that living water, the sanctifying Spirit, issuing forth unto everlasting life. Thus we shall be enabled to put away a froward mouth and perverse lips; our eyes will be turned from beholding vanity, looking straight forward, and walking by the rule of God's word, treading in the steps of our Lord and Master. Lord, forgive the past, and enable us to follow thee more closely for the time to come.