The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.
Parallel translations
- WEB The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.
- KJV The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
- NKJV The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.
- NASB The fear of the Lord leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.
- NLT Fear of the Lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.
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
Reverent fear of the LORD leads to life, contentment, and security. Walking in the fear of God brings true rest.
Overview
This proverb teaches that the fear of Yahweh leads to life and satisfying contentment, so that one rests untouched by harm. It does not promise freedom from all trouble but a settled security in God for those who reverence Him. This deep rest is fulfilled in the gospel, where Christ gives life and peace, inviting the weary to find rest for their souls in Him (Matt. 11:28-29).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 23
- Matt 5:6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
- Prov 14:26–27He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.
- Isa 58:10–11and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will go forth in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday.
- Prov 12:21No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.
- 1 Tim 4:8For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.
- Heb 13:5–6Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
- Ps 90:14Satisfy us in the morning with Your loving devotion, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
- Phil 4:11–12I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.
- Prov 10:27The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be cut short.
- Mal 3:16–17At that time those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. So a scroll of remembrance was written before Him regarding those who feared the LORD and honored His name.
- Ps 103:17But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children—
- Ps 85:9Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.
- Ps 145:18–20The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.
- Ps 33:18–19Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His loving devotion
- 1 Tim 6:6–9Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.
- Ps 34:9–11Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing.
- Rom 8:28And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- Mal 4:2“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall.
- Ps 91:16With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”
- Ps 19:9The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true, being altogether righteous.
- Ps 25:13His soul will dwell in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.
- 2 Tim 4:18And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
- Acts 9:31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.
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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 19:23 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
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