Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
Parallel translations
- WEB Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.
- BSB Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far from them.
- NKJV Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards his soul will be far from them.
- NASB Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; One who guards himself will be far from them.
- NLT Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will avoid it.
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
Thorns and snares beset the path of the crooked, but the careful avoid them. It matters because guarding one's soul keeps one from the perils of sin.
Overview
The way of the wicked is full of self-inflicted dangers, while those who watch over their souls keep clear of them (Proverbs 15:19; 13:15). The verse contrasts the perilous path of sin with the protected way of the godly. Guarding the heart and walking uprightly is the way of safety and life.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Prov 16:17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
- Prov 15:19The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
- Jude 1:20–21But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
- 1 Jn 5:18We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
- Job 18:8For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.
- Prov 19:16He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
- Prov 13:15Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
- Prov 13:3He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
- Ps 18:26–27With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
- Josh 23:13Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
- Ps 91:1He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
- Ps 11:6Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
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 22:5 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.