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When you walk, their counsel will lead you. When you sleep, they will protect you. When you wake up, they will advise you.
Proverbs 6:22 · New Living Translation
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.
  • BSB When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.
  • 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.

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 shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.
  • Ps 119:24Indeed your statutes are my delight, and my counselors. DALED
  • Prov 2:11Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,
  • Ps 43:3Oh, send out your light and your truth. Let them lead me. Let them bring me to your holy hill, To your tents.
  • Ps 119:97How I love your law! It is my meditation all day.
  • Ps 119:9How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
  • Ps 119:54Your statutes have been my songs, in the house where I live.
  • Ps 17:4As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
  • Ps 119:148My eyes stay open through the night watches, that I might meditate on your word.
  • Dan 11:18–21After this shall he turn his face to the islands, and shall take many: but a prince shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; yes, moreover, he shall cause his reproach to turn on him.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Proverbs videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Proverbs 6:22YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ProverbsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    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.