Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Parallel translations
- WEB Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk 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 13:20He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
- Prov 4:11I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
- Luke 13:24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
- 2 Cor 6:17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
- Ps 26:4–6I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
- Ps 119:115Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
- Prov 8:35For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
- Rev 18:4And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
- Acts 2:40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
- Matt 7:13–14Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
- Prov 9:11For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
- Ps 45:10Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house;
- Prov 4:14–15Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
- Prov 10:17He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
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.