Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”
Parallel translations
- KJV Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
- BSB Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
- NKJV Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.
- NASB “Abandon your foolishness and live, And proceed in the way of understanding.”
- NLT Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment.”
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 calls hearers to leave their simple ways, live, and walk in understanding. Forsaking folly and following wisdom leads to life.
Overview
Wisdom's invitation requires a decisive break: abandon the path of folly and embrace the way of understanding. The promise attached is 'live'—genuine, flourishing life. This call to turn and change direction anticipates the gospel summons to repent of sin and walk in newness of life in Christ (Ephesians 4:22-24).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Prov 13:20One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
- Prov 4:11I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
- Luke 13:24“Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in, and will not be able.
- 2 Cor 6:17Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.
- Ps 26:4–6I have not sat with deceitful men, neither will I go in with hypocrites.
- Ps 119:115Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.
- Prov 8:35For whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor from Yahweh.
- Rev 18:4I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you don’t receive of her plagues,
- Acts 2:40With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
- Matt 7:13–14“Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it.
- Prov 9:11For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.
- Ps 45:10Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear. Forget your own people, and also your father’s house.
- Prov 4:14–15Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
- Prov 10:17He is in the way of life who heeds correction, but he who forsakes reproof leads others astray.
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 9:6 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.