Proverbs 16:17

17 A highway of the upright [is], `Turn from evil,' Whoso is preserving his soul is watching his way.

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 In the light of a king's face [is] life, And his good-will [is] as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 To get wisdom -- how much better than gold, And to get understanding to be chosen than silver!
17 A highway of the upright [is], `Turn from evil,' Whoso is preserving his soul is watching his way.
18 Before destruction [is] pride, And before stumbling -- a haughty spirit.'
19 Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion spoil with the proud.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.