Proverbs 16:17

17 The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.

Proverbs 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.

Proverbs 16:17 In-Context

15 When a king’s face brightens, there is life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.

16 How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.

17 The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.

18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.