Proverbs 28:18

18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.[a]

Proverbs 28:18 in Other Translations

KJV
18 Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
ESV
18 Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
NLT
18 The blameless will be rescued from harm, but the crooked will be suddenly destroyed.
MSG
18 Walk straight - live well and be saved; a devious life is a doomed life. Doing Great Harm in Seemingly Harmless Ways
CSB
18 The one who lives with integrity will be helped, but one who distorts right and wrong will suddenly fall.

Proverbs 28:18 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 28:18

Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved,
Or "be safe" F18 from those that seek his life, plot against him, shoot at him, as the wicked do at the upright in heart, but the Lord protects him; and it is even well with him in times of public calamities; the Lord has his chambers and hiding places for him; and he is safe from falling, as may be gathered from the opposite clause; for he walks surely, and is in the hands of Christ, and is kept by him from a final and total falling away: and he shall be saved also with an everlasting salvation; from sin, and all the effects of it; from the curse of the law, from wrath to come, from hell and damnation. Not that his upright walk is the cause of this; the moving cause of salvation is the grace of God; the procuring cause, our Lord Jesus Christ, the only Author of it: but this is a descriptive character of the persons that are and shall be saved; it is a clear case that such have the grace of God, and therefore shall have glory; (See Gill on Proverbs 10:9); but [he that is] perverse [in his] ways;
"in his two ways", as in ( Proverbs 27:6 ) ; or many ways, and all perverse and wicked: shall fall at once;
his destruction shall come suddenly upon him, when he is not aware of it, and when he cries, Peace, peace, to himself: or in one of them; in one or other of his perverse ways.


FOOTNOTES:

F18 (evwy) "erit salvus", Pagninus, Montanus, V. L. Mercerus, Cocceius, Gejerus.

Proverbs 28:18 In-Context

16 A tyrannical ruler practices extortion, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.
17 Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold them back.
18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.
19 Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.
20 A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Jeremiah 39:18
  • 2. S Esther 6:13; Proverbs 10:9

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Syriac (see Septuagint); Hebrew "into one"
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