Proverbs 21:16

16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead.

Proverbs 21:16 in Other Translations

KJV
16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
ESV
16 One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead.
NLT
16 The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead.
MSG
16 Whoever wanders off the straight and narrow ends up in a congregation of ghosts.
CSB
16 The man who strays from the way of wisdom will come to rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.

Proverbs 21:16 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 21:16

The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding
The way of getting understanding, the good ways and word of God; that wanders from the house of God, the assembly of the saints, where the Gospel is preached, and the ordinances are administered; that, instead of attending on them, where he might gain the understanding of divine and spiritual things, wanders about in the fields, gets into bad company, walks with them in their ways, and turns to his own, as a sheep that goes astray: he shall remain in the congregation of the dead;
among those that are spiritually dead, dead in trespasses and sins; such an one he himself is, and such he is like to continue, and not be written among the living in Jerusalem; or among those who die the second and eternal death, among the damned in hell; so Jarchi interprets it of the congregation of hell; and a large congregation that will be, but dreadful to have an abode with them. The words are rendered by the Septuagint, and the versions that follow that, "shall rest in the congregation of the giants"; which some interpret of devils, and others of the giants of the old world F2, damned spirits: resting with them does not design peace and quietness, for there will be none there; but a fixed settled abode, in opposition to wandering, in the preceding clause.


FOOTNOTES:

F2 See Mede's Discourse 7. p. 32.

Proverbs 21:16 In-Context

14 A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.
15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Psalms 49:14; Ezekiel 18:24
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