When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.
Parallel translations
- WEB When you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will talk with you.
- KJV When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
- NKJV When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you.
- NASB When you walk, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you.
- NLT When you walk, their counsel will lead you. When you sleep, they will protect you. When you wake up, they will advise you.
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
This wisdom guides you while walking, guards you while sleeping, and counsels you when you wake. Godly teaching accompanies you everywhere.
Overview
The personified instruction leads, watches over, and speaks to the son at every moment of life. The threefold picture echoes the Law's promise to be a constant guide and companion. Internalized truth is portrayed as an active, protective presence, foreshadowing the indwelling word that shapes the believer's daily walk.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Ps 119:11I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
- Prov 3:23–24Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
- Ps 119:24Your testimonies are indeed my delight; they are my counselors.
- Prov 2:11Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you,
- Ps 43:3Send out Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, and to the place where You dwell.
- Ps 119:97Oh, how I love Your law! All day long it is my meditation.
- Ps 119:9How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.
- Ps 119:54Your statutes are songs to me in the house of my pilgrimage.
- Ps 17:4As for the deeds of men—by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.
- Ps 119:148My eyes anticipate the watches of night, that I may meditate on Your word.
- Dan 11:18–21Then he will turn his face to the coastlands and capture many of them. But a commander will put an end to his reproach and will turn it back upon him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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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 6:22 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.