Verse

Proverbs 2:9

ESV Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;
NIV Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.
NASB Then you will discern righteousness, justice, And integrity, and every good path.
CSB Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity—every good path.
NLT Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go.
KJV Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
NKJV Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path.

What does Proverbs 2:9 mean?

The context of chapter 2 is virtuous living, meaning an all-encompassing pursuit of certain godly traits. The underlying ideas of this passage include four virtues— wisdom, courage, integrity, and justice—which are not completely individual traits. They are not meant to be built in sequence on top of each other. Instead, they all exist proportionately to one another.

In the first section of chapter 2 we are encouraged to increase in wisdom. The second section discusses our reasons for confidence in pursuing God's truth, resulting in an increase in our courage. This verse represents the second "then" statement of chapter 2, an explanation of how we can increase in justice.

Three words are used here to describe the subject of this section: "righteousness and justice and equity." Righteousness describes a natural or moral rightness. Justice—or judgment—is the legal pronouncement of a judicial verdict. Equity is an attitude of agreement or rectitude. These three terms reinforce one another, giving us a fuller description of what justice truly is. Justice, as a virtue, is all three of these in unity (Deuteronomy 16:20).
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Context Summary
Proverbs 2:9–15 refines our understanding of justice, which is possibly the most difficult of the four virtues to master. We have long misunderstood justice as fairness or equality. Everyone is familiar with the common complaint ''that's not fair.'' This is often expressed when someone perceives that they are not being treated identically to others. However, true justice makes no claim to be equal; instead it is equitable. Justice can be defined as giving each person their due. Justice is absolutely fair, it is not necessarily equal.
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Chapter Summary
In Proverbs chapter 2, Solomon highlights various virtues, as well as provides encouragement to live a virtuous life. As in chapter 1, specific concepts wil reoccur, and are used in certain ways. Here, these are ideas such as courage, integrity, wisdom, and justice. The gist of this passage is the positive effect that virtue—including these various aspects—will have on one's life. In contrast, those who pursue non-virtuous living will suffer dire consequences.
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