Proverbs 19:2

2 Also, a life without knowledge is not good, and he who moves quickly with [his] feet {misses the mark}.

Proverbs 19:2 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 19:2

Also, [that] the soul [be] without knowledge, [it is] not good,
&c.] Without knowledge of things natural and civil, especially without the knowledge of God and Christ, and divine and spiritual things; to be without this is not good, yea, very bad; for men without such knowledge and understanding are, like the beasts that perish, and for lack of it do. Jarchi interprets it, without the law. Or, "to be without the knowledge of the soul is not good" ^F5; so the Targum, Vulgate Latin, and Syriac versions,

``he that knoweth not his soul, it is not good for him;''

that does not know he has a soul, or however takes no more care of it than if he had none; who knows not the worth and value of it, its state and condition, and the danger it is in, and the only way of attaining the salvation of it; and he that hasteth with [his] feet sinneth;
who engages in anything ignorantly and rashly, he misses the mark, and fails in the performance of it, for want of due consideration and care. The Targum is,

``he that is swift with his feet to evil is a sinner;''

whose feet run to evil, to commit robbery, as Aben Ezra; or to shed blood; see ( Proverbs 1:16 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 So Vatablus; or "without care of it", Schultcns.

Proverbs 19:2 In-Context

1 Better a poor person walking in integrity than one who is perverse {in his speech} and is a fool.

2 Also, a life without knowledge is not good, and he who moves quickly with [his] feet {misses the mark}.

3 As for the folly of humankind, its way leads to ruin, and against Yahweh his heart will rage.

4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor will be left by his friends.

5 A witness of falsehood will not go unpunished, and he who breathes lies will not escape.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "soul," or "inner self"
• [b]. Or "sins"