Proverbs 4:15–20
Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
Auoid it, passe not by it, turne from it, and passe away.
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
For they sleepe not except they haue done mischiefe: and their sleepe is taken away vnlesse they cause some to fall.
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
For they eate the bread of wickednesse, and drinke the wine of violence.
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
But the path of the iust is as the shining light that shineth more and more vnto the perfect day.
The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
The way of the wicked is as darknes: they know not at what they stumble.
¶ My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
¶ My sonne, attend to my words, incline thine eare vnto my sayings.
Narration uses the Pure Cambridge Edition.
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SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE
Cross References
30 Essential passages are open for comparison.
From verse 15
- Ephesians 5:11Rank 1 from verse 15
- 1 Thessalonians 5:22Rank 3 from verse 15
- Exodus 23:7Rank 4 from verse 15
- Isaiah 33:15Rank 6 from verse 15
15He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
15*††‖†He that walketh righteously, and speaketh vprightly, hee that despiseth the gaine of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his eares from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing euill:
- Proverbs 5:8Rank 7 from verse 15
- Proverbs 6:5Rank 8 from verse 15
From verse 16
- Psalms 36:4Rank 1 from verse 16
1WOE to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.
1¶ Woe to them that deuise iniquitie, and worke euill vpon their beds: when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.
- Isaiah 57:20Rank 3 from verse 16
- 2 Peter 2:14Rank 4 from verse 16
14Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
14Hauing eyes ful of †adulterie and that cannot cease from sinne, beguiling vnstable soules: an heart they haue exercised with couetous practises: cursed children:
- Proverbs 1:16Rank 5 from verse 16
- Luke 22:66Rank 6 from verse 16
- John 18:28Rank 7 from verse 16
28¶ Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
28¶ *Then led they Iesus from Caiaphas vnto ‖the hall of Iudgement: And it was earely, *and they themselues went not into the Iudgement hall, lest they should be defiled: but that they might eat the Passeouer.
From verse 17
- James 5:4–5Rank 1 from verse 17
4Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
5Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
4Beholde, the hire of the labourers which haue reaped downe your fieldes, which is of you kept backe by fraud, cryeth: and the cryes of them which haue reaped, are entred into the eares of the Lord of Sabaoth.
5Yee haue liued in pleasure on the earth, and bene wanton: ye haue nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter:
- Micah 6:12Rank 2 from verse 17
- Proverbs 20:17Rank 3 from verse 17
- Proverbs 9:17Rank 4 from verse 17
- Psalms 14:4Rank 5 from verse 17
- Amos 8:4–6Rank 6 from verse 17
4¶ Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,
5Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?
6That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?
4¶ Heare this, O ye that swallow vp the needy, euen to make the poore of the land to faile,
5Saying, When will the ‖newe Moone be gone, that we may sell corne? and the Sabbath, that wee may †set forth wheat, making the Ephah small, and the shekel great, and †falsifying the balances by deceit?
6That wee may *buy the poore for siluer, & the needie for a paire of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheate?
- Ezekiel 22:25–29Rank 7 from verse 17
25There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.
26Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
27Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
28And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord God, when the Lord hath not spoken.
29The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.
25* There is a conspiracie of her prophets in the middest thereof like a roaring lyon, rauening the praye: they haue deuoured soules: they haue taken the treasure and precious things: they haue made her many widowes in the midst thereof.
26†Her priests haue violated my law, and haue prophaned mine holy things: they haue put no difference betweene the holy and prophane, neither haue they shewed difference between the vncleane and the cleane, and haue hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am prophaned among them.
27*Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolues rauening the praye, to shed blood, and to destroy soules, to get dishonest gaine.
28And her prophets haue dawbed them with vntempered morter, seeing vanity, and diuining lies vnto them, saying, Thus saith the LORD God, when the LORD hath not spoken.
29‖†The people of the land haue vsed oppression, and exercised robbery, and haue vexed the poore and needie: yea, they haue oppressed the stranger wrongfully.
- Jeremiah 5:26–28Rank 8 from verse 17
26For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
27As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.
28They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
26‖For among my people are found wicked men: they lay waite as hee that setteth snares, they set a trap, they catch men.
27‖As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.
28**They are waxen fat, they shine: yea they ouerpasse the deedes of the wicked: they iudge not the cause, the cause of the fatherlesse, yet they prosper: and the right of the needy doe they not iudge.
- Job 24:5–6Rank 9 from verse 17
5Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.
6They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked.
5Behold, as wilde asses in the desart, goe they foorth to their worke, rising betimes for a pray: the wildernes yeeldeth food for them, and for their children.
6They reape euery one his †corne in the fielde: and †they gather the vintage of the wicked.
- Matthew 23:13Rank 10 from verse 17
13¶ But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
13¶ But *woe vnto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; for yee shut vp the kingdom of heauen against men: For yee neither goe in your selues, neither suffer ye them that are entring, to goe in.
5¶ Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.
5¶ *Thus saith the LORD concerning the Prophets that make my people erre, that bite with their teeth and crie; Peace: and he that putteth not into their mouths, they euen prepare warre against him:
- Zephaniah 3:3Rank 12 from verse 17
From verse 18
12¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
12¶ Then spake Iesus againe vnto them, saying, *I am the light of the world: he that followeth mee, shall not walke in darkenesse, but shall haue the light of life.
- Daniel 12:3Rank 3 from verse 18
- Philippians 2:15Rank 4 from verse 18
15That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
15That yee may bee blamelesse and ‖harmelesse, the sonnes of God, without rebuke, in the middes of a crooked and peruerse nation, among whom ‖ye shine as lights in the world:
- 2 Corinthians 3:18Rank 5 from verse 18
18But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
18But we all, with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glorie to glorie, euen as ‖by the spirit of the Lord.
- 2 Peter 1:19Rank 6 from verse 18
19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
19We haue also a more sure word of prophecie, whereunto yee doe well that ye take heede, as vnto a light that shineth in a darke place, vntill the day dawne, and the day starre arise in your hearts:
- Matthew 5:14Rank 7 from verse 18
- Psalms 84:7Rank 8 from verse 18
- Isaiah 26:7Rank 9 from verse 18
- Matthew 5:16Rank 10 from verse 18
- 2 Samuel 23:4Rank 11 from verse 18
4And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
4And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the Sunne riseth, euen a morning, without cloudes; as the tender grasse springing out of the earth by cleare shining after raine:
- Revelation 22:5Rank 12 from verse 18
5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
5*And there shalbe no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the Sunne, for the Lord God giueth them light, and they shall reigne for euer and euer.
- 2 Peter 3:18Rank 13 from verse 18
- Revelation 21:23Rank 14 from verse 18
- Zechariah 14:6–7Rank 15 from verse 18
6And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
7But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.
6††And it shall come to passe in that day, that the light shall not be cleare, nor darke.
7‖**But it shall be one day, which shalbe knowen to the LORD, not day nor night: but it shal come to passe that at euening time it shalbe light.
3Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
3Then shal we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared, as the morning; & he shall come vnto vs, as the raine; as the latter and former raine vnto the earth.
- Matthew 5:45Rank 18 from verse 18
45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
45That yee may be the children of your father which is in heauen: for he maketh his sunne to rise on the euill and on the good, and sendeth raine on the iust, and on the vniust.
From verse 19
- John 12:35Rank 1 from verse 19
35Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
35Then Iesus said vnto them, Yet a little while is the light with you: walke while ye haue the light, lest darkdesse come vpon you: For he that walketh in darkenesse, knoweth not whither he goeth.
- Isaiah 59:9–10Rank 2 from verse 19
9¶ Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.
10We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.
9¶ Therefore is iudgement farre from vs, neither doth iustice ouertake vs: we waite for light, but behold obscuritie, for brightnesse, but we walke in darknesse.
10We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eies: we stumble at noone day as in the night, we are in desolate places as dead men.
- Jeremiah 23:12Rank 3 from verse 19
12Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the Lord.
12Wherefore their way shalbe vnto them as slippery wayes in the darkenes: they shalbe driuen on and fall therein: for I will bring euill vpon them, euen the yeere of their visitation, saith the LORD.
- Job 18:5–6Rank 4 from verse 19
5Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.
6The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.
5Yea, the light of the wicked shalbe put out, and the sparke of his fire shall not shine.
6The light shalbe darke in his tabernacle, and his ‖candle shalbe put out with him.
- 1 Samuel 2:9Rank 5 from verse 19
- Jeremiah 13:16Rank 6 from verse 19
16Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
16*Giue glory to the LORD your God before he cause darknesse, and before your feet stumble vpon the darke mountaines, and while yee looke for light, he turne it into the shadowe of death, and make it grosse darkenesse.
- John 11:10Rank 10 from verse 19
- Matthew 7:23Rank 11 from verse 19
- Proverbs 2:13Rank 12 from verse 19
- 1 John 2:11Rank 13 from verse 19
11But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
11But he that hateth his brother, is in darknesse, and walketh in darknesse, and knoweth not whither hee goeth, because that darknesse hath blinded his eyes.
- Matthew 15:14Rank 14 from verse 19
From verse 20
- Proverbs 5:1Rank 1 from verse 20
- Isaiah 55:3Rank 2 from verse 20
3Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
3*Incline your eare, and come vnto me: heare, and your soule shall liue, and I will make an euerlasting couenant with you, euen the sure mercies of Dauid.
- Proverbs 6:20–21Rank 3 from verse 20
20¶ My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
21Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
20¶ *My sonne, keepe thy fathers commandement, and forsake not the law of thy mother.
21Binde them continually vpon thine heart, and tie them about thy necke.
- Proverbs 7:1Rank 4 from verse 20
- Psalms 78:1Rank 5 from verse 20
- Psalms 90:12Rank 6 from verse 20
- Matthew 17:5Rank 7 from verse 20
5While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
5*While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud ouershadowed them: and behold a voyce out of the cloude, which saide, This is my beloued sonne, in whom I am well pleased: heare ye him.
WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE
Definitions
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DEFINED WORDS
Proverbs 4:15
Sense 1: To depart, withdraw, escape, or shun. Sense 2: To prevent or take care to prevent.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
To go by, through, over, or beyond; to happen, cease, or be transferred.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: To change direction, position, condition, purpose, or allegiance; to cause such a change. Sense 2: One’s time or occasion in an order or succession.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
DEFINED WORDS
Proverbs 4:16
1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: Natural bodily rest with suspended waking activity; figuratively, inattention or inactivity; or death described as sleep. Sense 2: To rest in sleep; figuratively, to lie in death.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: Unless; with the exclusion of; apart from. Sense 2: To exclude or leave out. Sense 3: To object or take exception.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Harm, hurt, injury, damage, or evil.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
1. Received, accepted, or chosen. 2. Seized or captured. 3. Carried or laid hold of.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Except; that is, remove or dismiss the fact or thing stated in the sentence or clause which follows.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
Sense 1: A reason, ground, matter in dispute, or judicial case. Sense 2: As a verb, to make something happen.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: To descend, drop, or lose an upright position. Sense 2: To be slain, defeated, overthrown, ruined, or brought down. Sense 3: To come upon or attack. Sense 4: To pass into a specified place, condition, power, or course, or to depart from a former standing. Sense 5: To happen, turn out, or be allotted. Sense 6: As a noun, descent, overthrow, ruin, or loss of standing.
Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828
DEFINED WORDS
Proverbs 4:17
1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
To take food into the body; to consume, devour, or waste away.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
COMBINED MEANING
wickedness
Moral evil, sin, iniquity, injustice, perversity, or corrupt intent or conduct.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
The produce of grapes or other fruit used as a drink.
Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references
DEFINED WORDS
Proverbs 4:18
Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828
A track, route, course, or way of travel or conduct.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Right, righteous, upright, equitable, lawful, or fair.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Present-participial or verbal-noun form of shine, meaning to emit rays of light; to give light; to beam with steady radiance; to exhibit brightness or splendor. To give light, real or figurative.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
Sense 1: Brightness or illumination. Sense 2: A source or opening that gives light. Sense 3: Figuratively, truth, knowledge, revelation, life, or favour contrasted with darkness. Sense 4: To illuminate or kindle. Sense 5: To alight or come upon. Sense 6: Slight, easy, swift, or not heavy.
Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references
Complete, whole, sound, mature, upright, fully fitted, finished, exact, or lacking nothing required for the person, work, knowledge, state, purpose, or standard in view; to perfect is to bring to that intended completion or maturity.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: Light or the period of light between morning and evening, as distinguished from night. Sense 2: A complete daily cycle. Sense 3: A specified time, occasion, period, age, or season.
Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
DEFINED WORDS
Proverbs 4:19
Sense 1: Absence of light. Sense 2: Obscurity, ignorance, distress, or moral evil by figure.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
To perceive, understand, recognize, experience, or be assured of something.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: To trip, lose footing, or fall by striking against something. Sense 2: To err, fall, or be hindered figuratively. Sense 3: To cause another to trip, fall, err, or be hindered.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
DEFINED WORDS
Proverbs 4:20
1. A male child or descendant. 2. One belonging to, related to, or characterized by the person, people, place, condition, or quality named.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
1. To give heed, listen, or direct attention toward. 2. To wait upon, serve, or devote oneself to.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Spoken or written expressions, sayings, statements, messages, commands, promises, reports, or units of meaningful speech.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
To bend, bow, turn, tend, or direct toward; to direct one's attention or desire.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Cawdrey 1604
Sense 1: The organ of hearing. Sense 2: The seed-bearing head of grain.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
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Related Concepts
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salvation
READ THE PASSAGE
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Suggested context · Proverbs 4:14–22
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4:14¶ Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
4:14¶ *Enter not into the path of the wicked, and goe not in the way of euill men.
4:15Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
4:15Auoid it, passe not by it, turne from it, and passe away.
Selected passage4:16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
4:16For they sleepe not except they haue done mischiefe: and their sleepe is taken away vnlesse they cause some to fall.
Selected passage4:17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
4:17For they eate the bread of wickednesse, and drinke the wine of violence.
Selected passage4:18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
4:18But the path of the iust is as the shining light that shineth more and more vnto the perfect day.
Selected passage4:19The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
4:19The way of the wicked is as darknes: they know not at what they stumble.
Selected passage4:20¶ My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
4:20¶ My sonne, attend to my words, incline thine eare vnto my sayings.
Selected passage4:21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
4:21Let them not depart from thine eyes: keepe them in the midst of thine heart.
4:22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
4:22†For they are life vnto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.