Proverbs 2:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life.

NIV: None who go to her return or attain the paths of life.

NASB: None who go to her return, Nor do they reach the paths of life.

CSB: None return who go to her; none reach the paths of life.

NLT: The man who visits her is doomed. He will never reach the paths of life.

KJV: None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

NKJV: None who go to her return, Nor do they regain the paths of life—

Prior verses have used the metaphor of a seductive woman in order to explain the dangers of sin. According to this passage, sin is enticing, leads us away from God, and eventually blinds us to the danger of our own choices. This path eventually leads to the ultimate consequence of all sin: death. This verse, in particular, can be very disheartening if taken out of context.

God is absolutely loving, yet God is also absolutely just. God is perfect in all His attributes and lacks nothing. Therefore, as God, in His infinite love provides a way for us to be saved (John 3:16–17), He also must demand justice for sin (Romans 6:23; John 3:18–21). This verse is the final condemnation. All will be held accountable and once we know the truth of the gospel, if we willfully turn away from it to sin, we will eventually be turned over to our depravity (Psalm 81:12; Romans 1:24–32).

Proverbs 2:16–22 focuses on the virtue philosophers such as Plato refer to as integrity, which is better labelled as temperance. This virtue is more than doing what is right even when no one is looking, which is how we often define integrity. Rather, it is also keeping ourselves from situations where we might be tempted to do wrong. In the modern sense, integrity is marked by what you do, while temperance is marked by using other virtues to avoid negative situations. For instance, Paul warns how being drunk leads to debauchery (Ephesians 5:18). A person exhibiting temperance might restrict or eliminate use of alcohol, thereby avoiding drunkenness and therefore, avoiding debauchery. This can be stated succinctly as a man mastering or controlling himself (James 3). This passage contrasts the outcome of not controlling oneself against the benefit of living with integrity.

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.

The overarching theme of Proverbs chapter 2 is the relationship between virtue and discernment. As described here, virtuous living is moral living. As a person strives to live a moral life, he or she develops a greater ability to discern right from wrong. Further, beyond simple matters of right and wrong, as virtue grows within a person, he or she becomes more proficient at discerning trickier situations. Real life predicaments often present two or more seemingly valid options. Discernment, then, also includes determining which of many different options is actually best. Likewise, many life situations appear to offer only a variety of bad options. There, discernment is once again required, to determine which option presents the correct choice, or to recognize where a ''good'' option has been hidden.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.

Accessed 5/4/2024 7:53:23 PM