Proverbs 2:12-22

12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,

13 who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways,

14 who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,

15 whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.

16 Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words,

17 who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God.^[a]

18 Surely her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead.

19 None who go to her return or attain the paths of life.

20 Thus you will walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous.

21 For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it;

22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

Proverbs 2:12-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 2

This chapter directs to the means of attaining to the knowledge of divine things, and shows the profit and advantage arising from thence. The means are, embracing the doctrines of the Gospel, and retaining in memory and affection the ordinances of it, Pr 2:1; and an inclination of the ear and an application of the heart to the knowledge of these things, Pr 2:2. An earnest and importunate desire, expressed by prayer, after the same, Pr 2:3; and a diligent and unwearied search for them, as for silver and hid treasure, Pr 2:4. The advantages are, that such shall attain to the fear and knowledge of God; which may be concluded from these being the gift of God to his people, and from their being laid up for them, whom he carefully keeps and preserves, Pr 2:5-8; and not only so, but such learn to do that which is just and right among men, Pr 2:9. And, besides, such is the nature of divine wisdom, that, when it has once got a place in the heart and in the affections, it will be a means of preserving both from the ways of evil men, Pr 2:10-12; who are described, Pr 2:13-15. And from the evil woman, whose character is given, Pr 2:16,17; whose vicious course of life, and the ways she leads persons into, are represented as very dangerous, Pr 2:18,19. And, on the contrary, such is the usefulness of true wisdom, that it leads into the way of good men, who will be happy and safe, when the wicked shall be destroyed, Pr 2:20-22.

Cross References

• 1. ver 16; Proverbs 3:13-18; Proverbs 4:5
• 2. Proverbs 4:19; John 3:19
• 3. Proverbs 10:23; Proverbs 15:21; Jeremiah 11:15
• 4. S Psalms 125:5
• 5. Proverbs 21:8
• 6. Proverbs 5:1-6; Proverbs 6:20-29; Proverbs 7:5-27
• 7. Malachi 2:14
• 8. Proverbs 5:5; Proverbs 7:27; Proverbs 9:18
• 9. Proverbs 3:16-18; Proverbs 5:8; Ecclesiastes 7:26
• 10. S Psalms 37:29
• 11. S Psalms 5:4
• 12. S Job 18:17; Psalms 37:38
• 13. Deuteronomy 28:63; S Deuteronomy 29:28; Ps 37:9,28-29; Proverbs 10:30

Footnotes

• [a] Or "covenant of her God"