Proverbs 19:2

2 Desire without knowledge is not good— how much more will hasty feet miss the way!

Proverbs 19:2 in Other Translations

2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

2 Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

2 Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.

2 Ignorant zeal is worthless; haste makes waste.

2 Even zeal is not good without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily sins.

Proverbs 19:2 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 19:2

Also, [that] the soul [be] without knowledge, [it is] not good,
&c.] Without knowledge of things natural and civil, especially without the knowledge of God and Christ, and divine and spiritual things; to be without this is not good, yea, very bad; for men without such knowledge and understanding are, like the beasts that perish, and for lack of it do. Jarchi interprets it, without the law. Or, "to be without the knowledge of the soul is not good" ^F5; so the Targum, Vulgate Latin, and Syriac versions,

``he that knoweth not his soul, it is not good for him;''

that does not know he has a soul, or however takes no more care of it than if he had none; who knows not the worth and value of it, its state and condition, and the danger it is in, and the only way of attaining the salvation of it; and he that hasteth with [his] feet sinneth;
who engages in anything ignorantly and rashly, he misses the mark, and fails in the performance of it, for want of due consideration and care. The Targum is,

``he that is swift with his feet to evil is a sinner;''

whose feet run to evil, to commit robbery, as Aben Ezra; or to shed blood; see ( Proverbs 1:16 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 So Vatablus; or "without care of it", Schultcns.

Proverbs 19:2 In-Context

1 Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.

2 Desire without knowledge is not good— how much more will hasty feet miss the way!

3 A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the LORD.

4 Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free.

Cross References

• 1. Proverbs 29:20