There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Parallel translations
- WEB There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
- KJV There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
- NKJV There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
- NASB There is a way which seems right to a person, But its end is the way of death.
- NLT There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.
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
A path can seem right yet end in death. Human judgment, apart from God's truth, can be fatally mistaken.
Overview
This solemn proverb warns that our own sense of what is right is not a reliable guide, for a way may appear correct and still lead to destruction. It calls for humble dependence on God's wisdom rather than self-confidence. The verse points to humanity's need for the One who is the true way to life, Jesus Christ (John 14:6).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Prov 16:25There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
- Matt 7:13–14Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
- Prov 12:15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.
- Gal 6:3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
- Luke 13:24“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.
- Rom 6:21What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.
- Prov 30:12There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes and yet unwashed of their filth.
- Jas 1:22Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.
- Eph 5:6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 14:12 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.