A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.
Parallel translations
- WEB A righteous person is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
- KJV The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
- NKJV The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.
- NASB The righteous person is a guide to his neighbor, But the way of the wicked leads them astray.
- NLT The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. Wise discernment in relationships keeps us on the right path.
Overview
Though the Hebrew of this verse is somewhat difficult and variously rendered, the sense is that the righteous guide others or choose their associations wisely, while the way of the wicked misleads. It commends careful discernment in friendship and influence. Walking in righteousness, and choosing companions who do the same, helps keep believers on the path of life.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 1 Jn 2:26I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.
- Jas 1:13–14When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.
- Matt 5:46–48If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?
- Prov 17:27A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
- Ps 18:12–13From the brightness of His presence His clouds advanced—hailstones and coals of fire.
- Prov 12:13An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech, but a righteous man escapes from trouble.
- Luke 6:32–36If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
- 2 Pet 2:18–22With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.
- Rev 12:9And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
- 1 Pet 2:18–21Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable.
- Rev 13:14Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived.
- Ps 16:3As for the saints in the land, they are the excellence in whom all my delight resides.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 12:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.