Mishle 16:17

17 The mesilat yesharim (highway of the upright) is to depart from rah; he that guards his derech is shomer over his nefesh (soul).

Mishle 16:17 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 16:17

The highway of the upright [is] to depart from evil
Upright persons, such who are upright in heart, and walk uprightly; these walk in the highway of holiness, in which men, though fools, shall not err; in the King's highway, the highway of the King of kings; in the plain beaten path of God's commandments; and so shun the bypaths of sin, and abstain from all appearance of it: this is their common constant course of life; they are studiously concerned to walk herein, and take delight in so doing; whereby they escape many evils others fall into; he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul,
that keeps on in his way, the way in which the upright walk; whose eyes look right on, and his eyelids straight before him; who ponders the path of his feet, and turns neither to the right hand nor the left; who walks circumspectly and carefully; observes the road he is in, to keep in it, and not go out of it; such a man preserves his soul from many snares and temptations, troubles, dangers, and evils, which he would be otherwise liable to. Here the Masorites put the word (yux) , signifying that this is the half or middle of the book.

Mishle 16:17 In-Context

15 In the light of the countenance of melech is chayyim, and his favor is like the cloud of a spring rain.
16 How much better is it to acquire chochmah than zahav, and acquiring binah (understanding) a better choice than kesef!
17 The mesilat yesharim (highway of the upright) is to depart from rah; he that guards his derech is shomer over his nefesh (soul).
18 Ga’on (pride) goeth before shever (destruction), and a ruach of haughtiness before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of a humble ruach among the anayim, than to divide the plunder with the proud.
The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.