All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.
Parallel translations
- WEB Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
- KJV Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
- NKJV Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.
- NASB Her ways are pleasant ways, And all her paths are peace.
- NLT She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying.
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
Wisdom's ways are pleasant and lead to peace. Walking with God's wisdom brings a flourishing, well-ordered life.
Overview
Continuing the praise of wisdom (vv. 13-18), the father commends her by her fruit: pleasantness and peace (shalom, wholeness with God and neighbor). This is not the world's ease but the deep well-being of a life lived in fear of the Lord. In Christ, the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24-30), this peace is fully secured for those who walk in him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Luke 1:79to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
- Isa 26:3You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.
- Phil 4:8–9Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.
- Prov 2:10For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will delight your soul.
- Ps 119:165Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble.
- Ps 112:1Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments.
- Prov 22:18for it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips.
- Ps 19:10–11They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
- Ps 119:14I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches.
- Matt 11:28–30Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
- Prov 16:7When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
- Isa 57:19bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal them.”
- Ps 119:47I delight in Your commandments because I love them.
- Ps 119:103How sweet are Your words to my taste—sweeter than honey in my mouth!
- Ps 119:174I long for Your salvation, O LORD, and Your law is my delight.
- Ps 63:3–5Because Your loving devotion is better than life, my lips will glorify You.
- Ps 25:10All the LORD’s ways are loving and faithful to those who keep His covenant and His decrees.
- Ps 37:11But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.
- Rom 5:1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
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 3:17 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.