Proverbs 10:9
in Proverbs 10He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
He that walketh uprightly walketh surely; But he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
KJV
He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
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This verse in Proverbs 10
Commentary
8 notes on this verseHe that walketh uprightly walketh surely,.... Or, "that walketh in perfection" (c) as the Targum.
This site's exposition
Blessings are on the head of the righteous
on Proverbs 10:6-10
This cluster turns on standing and reception: “Blessings are on the head of the righteous,” and “the name of the wicked will rot”. Verse 8 sets the rule the rest of the chapter assumes: “A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin”.
This site's exposition
He who walks in integrity walks securely
The man of integrity has nothing hidden, so he walks without fear of what may come to light. John Wesley reads the second line as public exposure: the crooked man's wickedness will be found out before others. Crooked paths leave tracks.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Absalom was a treacherous man, and "stole all men's hearts." And observe how great was his treachery. "He went about," it saith, "and said, `Hast thou no judgment?'" wishing to conciliate every one to himself. But David was guileless. What then? Look at the end of them both, look, how full of utter madness was the former! For inasmuch as he looked solely to the hurt of his father, in all other things he was blinded. But not so David. For "he that walketh uprightly, walketh surely"; and reasonably; he is one that manages nothing over-subtilely, the man who devises no evil.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Whoever walks uprightly, walks securely, etc. He who knows he lives uprightly, easily disregards all adverse things, because he trusts he will come to joy through them, saying with the prophet: The Lord is the protector of my life; whom shall I fear? and the …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Surely - Or, securely, or confidently, as the word properly signifies; quietly resting upon God's favour and gracious providence for his protections. Known - His wickedness shall be publickly discovered.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
He that walketh uprightly - The upright man is always safe; he has not two characters to support; he goes straight forward, and is never afraid of detection, because he has never been influenced by hypocrisy or deceit.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Shall be known - literally, “shall be made to know” (see Jer 31:19; Jdg 8:16 margin) in the sense of exposed.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
He who winks his eye causes grief That is the one who entices a person to evil with his winks.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 2 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הוֹלֵ֣ךְ | holekh | [one who] walks | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| בַּ֭תֹּם | batom | in <the> integrity | H8537 → | 23 times |
| יֵ֣לֶךְ | yelekh | he walks | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| בֶּ֑טַח | betach | security | H983 → | 42 times |
| וּמְעַקֵּ֥שׁ | umeakesh | and [one who] perverts | H6140 → | |
| דְּ֝רָכָ֗יו | derakhav | ways his | H1870 → | 707 times |
| יִוָּדֵֽעַ׃ | yivadea' | he will become known | H3045 → | 945 times |
הוֹלֵ֣ךְ[one who] walks
holekhH1980 →1546 times
בַּ֭תֹּםin <the> integrity
batomH8537 →23 times
יֵ֣לֶךְhe walks
yelekhH1980 →1546 times
בֶּ֑טַחsecurity
betachH983 →42 times
וּמְעַקֵּ֥שׁand [one who] perverts
umeakeshH6140 →
דְּ֝רָכָ֗יוways his
derakhavH1870 →707 times
יִוָּדֵֽעַ׃he will become known
yivadea'H3045 →945 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each…
it leads to
- James 5:7
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.
- 2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
- 1 Corinthians 3:13
his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.
- Hebrews 4:13
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
- Romans 2:16
on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.
- James 5:7
Through
Matthew 10:26So do not be afraid of them. For there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.
it leads to
- Luke 8:17
For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light.
- Mark 4:22
For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light.
- Jeremiah 1:8
Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
- Luke 8:17
Where this verse is studied
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; John Chrysostom, Homilies on Ephesians 15; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.