Proverbs 4:26
in Proverbs 4Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Make level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established.
KJV
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
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This verse in Proverbs 4
Commentary
10 notes on this verseWe remember holy Scripture crying out, "Make straight the path for your feet, and direct your ways." They who honor the straight paths "run toward the goal to the prize of the heavenly calling in Christ." But those who pay no heed to the apostolic and evangelical tradition and honor the newer, useless and truly ridiculous invention of their own mind, let them hear from all, "Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which your fathers have set."
This site's exposition
Put away deception from your mouth
on Proverbs 4:24-27
The instruction narrows from the heart to the body, mouth, eyes and feet, each told to hold a straight course. “Let your eyes look forward” pictures a traveler who keeps from glancing aside at every distraction. “Make a level path for your feet” asks for weighed, deliberate steps.
This site's exposition
Make a level path for your feet
Make a level path translates a verb for weighing or leveling, and the Septuagint reads make straight paths for your feet. John Gill notes that Hebrews 12:13 takes up the Septuagint wording. Sure ways follow a level road.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Invite the poor," he says, those who are poor in words, so that you can make them rich. Invite "the crippled," those whose minds are injured, so that you can heal them. Invite "the lame," those who limp in their reason, so that they can make "straight paths." Invite the blind, who do not have the faculty of contemplation, so that they can see the true light.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Make straight paths for your feet. Namely, that you do not err in actions or faith. And all your ways will be established. May you not be swayed from your good purpose by fickleness of mind. Hence also the Apostle: Be steadfast and immovable, always …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Ponder the path of thy feet,.... Consider well what path it is, whether right or wrong; or weigh it in the balances of thought, as Aben Ezra; or rather in the balances of the word, and see whether it agrees with that or not. The Septuagint version is, "make straight paths for thy feet"; to which the author of the epistle to the Hebrews seems to have respect, Heb 12:13; and let all thy walls be established; so as to walk on steadily, constantly, uniformly, and not be easily moved out of the ways of religion and truth.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
It concerns us to consider what are the duties and what the difficulties, what are the advantages and what the dangers, of our way, that we may act accordingly. We must act with steadiness, caution, and consistency: " Let all thy ways be established (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens+odd-straight-quotes
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
) and be not unstable in them, as the double-minded man is; halt not between two, but go on in an even uniform course of obedience; turn not to the right hand not to the left, for there are errors on both hands, and Satan gains his point if he prevails to draw us aside either way.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Ponder the path of thy feet - Weigh well the part thou shouldst act in life. See that thou contract no bad habits.
The words behind it
6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| פַּ֭לֵּס | pales | make level | H6424 → | 6 times |
| מַעְגַּ֣ל | ma'gal | [the] track of | H4570 → | 16 times |
| רַגְלֶ֑ךָ | raglekha | foot your | H7272 → | 247 times |
| וְֽכָל־ | vekhol | and all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| דְּרָכֶ֥יךָ | derakheikha | ways your | H1870 → | 707 times |
| יִכֹּֽנוּ׃ | yikonu | let them be steadfast | H3559 → | 217 times |
פַּ֭לֵּסmake level
palesH6424 →6 times
מַעְגַּ֣ל[the] track of
ma'galH4570 →16 times
רַגְלֶ֑ךָfoot your
raglekhaH7272 →247 times
וְֽכָל־and all
vekholH3605 →5413 times
דְּרָכֶ֥יךָways your
derakheikhaH1870 →707 times
יִכֹּֽנוּ׃let them be steadfast
yikonuH3559 →217 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
Psalms 37:23The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey.
it leads to
- Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
- Psalms 119:133
Order my steps in Your word; let no sin rule over me.
- 1 Samuel 2:9
He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness; for by his own strength shall no man prevail.
- Psalms 40:2
He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm.
- Proverbs 16:9
Through
2 Thessalonians 3:3But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 4:18
And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:24
The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.
- 2 Timothy 4:18
Through
Psalms 119:5Oh, that my ways were committed to keeping Your statutes!
it leads to
- Psalms 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:5
May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
- Psalms 51:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Cyril of Alexandria, LETTER 31:3; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Origen of Alexandria, FRAGMENTS ON LUKE 209 (LK 14:12-14).