The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
Parallel translations
- WEB The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but he loves him who follows after righteousness.
- BSB The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness.
- NKJV The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves him who follows righteousness.
- NASB The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves the one who pursues righteousness.
- NLT The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue godliness.
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 LORD detests the way of the wicked but loves those who pursue righteousness. God's affection rests on the pursuit of holiness.
Overview
This proverb contrasts God's abhorrence of the wicked's lifestyle with His love for those who earnestly follow righteousness. It reveals that God is not indifferent but personally responds to the direction of our lives. The pursuit of righteousness it commends is empowered in the believer by grace, as we follow after Christ (Hebrews 12:14).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 1 Tim 6:11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
- Prov 21:21He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
- Hos 6:3Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
- Jer 44:4Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.
- Hab 1:13Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
- Matt 7:13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
- Isa 51:7Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
- Prov 21:4An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
- 2 Tim 2:22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- Isa 26:7The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.
- Prov 4:19The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
- Ps 146:8–9The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:
- Ps 1:6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
- Prov 21:8The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.
- Isa 51:1Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 15:9 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.