Proverbs 15 · Verse 19

Proverbs 15:19

The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
Proverbs 15:19, King James Version

Proverbs 15:19 in other translations

BSBThe way of the slacker is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
WEBThe way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway.
ASVThe way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns; But the path of the upright is made a highway.
YLTThe way of the slothful is as a hedge of briers, And the path of the upright is raised up.
DARBYThe way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns; but the path of the upright is made plain.
BBEThorns are round the way of the hater of work; but the road of the hard worker becomes a highway.
WebsterThe way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

What does Proverbs 15:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. The difficulties of the slothful result from want of energy; the righteous find a plain [and open] way--literally, "a highway," by diligence (1Sa 10:7; Psa 1:3).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns - Because he is slothful, he imagines ten thousand difficulties in the way which cannot be surmounted; but they are all the creatures of his own imagination, and that imagination is formed by his sloth.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Those who have no heart to their work, pretend that they cannot do their work without hardship and danger. And thus many live always in doubt about their state, because always in neglect of some duty.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 15:19 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

דֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekh[the] way ofH1870
עָ֭צֵל'A.tzela sluggardH6102
כִּמְשֻׂ֣כַתkim.Su.khat[is] like a hedge ofH4881
חָ֑דֶקCha.dekthorn[s]H2312
וְאֹ֖רַחve.'O.rachand [the] path ofH734
יְשָׁרִ֣יםye.sha.Rimupright [people]H3477
סְלֻלָֽה\׃se.lu.Lah[is] cast upH5549

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 15:19

  • Proverbs 22:5

    Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

  • Isaiah 35:8

    And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

  • Proverbs 22:13

    The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

  • Isaiah 30:21

    And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

  • Proverbs 26:13

    The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

  • Numbers 14:1-3

    And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

  • Proverbs 8:9

    They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

  • Psalms 27:11

    Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

  • Numbers 14:7-9

    And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.

  • Psalms 5:8

    Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

  • Psalms 25:12

    What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

  • Psalms 25:8-9

    Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
way of the slothful.
22:5,13; 26:13; Nu 14:1-3,7-9
the way of the righteous.
3:6; 8:9; Ps 5:8; 25:8,9,12; 27:11; Isa 30:21; 35:8
made plain. Heb. raised up as a causey.
Isa 57:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 15:18

    A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

  • Proverbs 15:19

    The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

  • Proverbs 15:20

    A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

Read all of Proverbs 15

Proverbs 15:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El camino del perezoso es como seto de espinos: mas la vereda de los rectos como una calzada.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		La voie du paresseux est comme une haie d’épines, mais le sentier des hommes droits est aplani.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der Weg des Faulen ist wie eine Dornhecke, aber der Pfad der Aufrichtigen ist gebahnt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Iter pigrorum quasi sepes spinarum; via justorum absque offendiculo.