Proverbs 4 · Verse 12

Proverbs 4:12

When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
Proverbs 4:12, King James Version

Proverbs 4:12 in other translations

BSBWhen you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
WEBWhen you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
ASVWhen thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
YLTIn thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
DARBYWhen thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
BBEWhen you go, your way will not be narrow, and in running you will not have a fall.
WebsterWhen thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

What does Proverbs 4:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 4:11-12

11-12. way of wisdom--which it prescribes. led thee--literally, "caused thee to tread," as a path (Psa 107:7). not be straitened--have ample room (Psa 18:36).

Read the full comment on Proverbs 4:11-12 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Thy steps shall not be straitened - True wisdom will teach thee to keep out of embarrassments. A man under the influence of true religion ponders his paths, and carefully poises occurring circumstances; and as the fear of God will ever lead him to act an upright and honest part, so his way in business and life is both clear and large. He has no by-ends to serve; he speculates not; he uses neither trick nor cunning to effect any purpose. Such a man can never be embarrassed. His steps are not straitened; he sees his way always plain; and when a favorable tide of Providence shows him the necessity of increased exertion, he runs, and is in no danger of stumbling.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 4:1-13

We must look upon our teachers as our fathers: though instruction carry in it reproof and correction, bid it welcome. Solomon's parents loved him, therefore taught him. Wise and godly men, in every age of the world, and rank in society, agree that true wisdom consists in obedience, and is united to happiness. Get wisdom, take pains for it. Get the rule over thy corruptions; take more pains to get this than the…

Read the full comment on Proverbs 4:1-13 →

Proverbs 4:12 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.

בְּֽ֭לֶכְתְּךָBe.lekh.te.khawhen walking youH1980
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
יֵצַ֣רye.Tzaranyone will hinderH3334
צַעֲדֶ֑ךָtza.'a.De.khastep[s] yourH6806
וְאִם\־ve.'im-and ifH518
תָּ֝ר֗וּץta.Rutzyou will runH7323
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
תִכָּשֵֽׁל\׃ti.ka.Shelyou will stumbleH3782

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

Cross references for Proverbs 4:12

  • Proverbs 3:23

    Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

  • Psalms 18:36

    Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

  • 2 Samuel 22:37

    Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.

  • 1 Peter 2:8

    And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

  • John 11:9-10

    Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

  • 1 John 2:10-11

    He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

  • Psalms 119:165

    Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

  • Psalms 91:11-12

    For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

  • Proverbs 4:19

    The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

  • Proverbs 6:22

    When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

  • Romans 9:32-33

    Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

  • Jeremiah 31:9

    They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
thou goest.
6:22; 2Sa 22:37; Job 18:7,8; Ps 18:36
thou shalt.
19; 3:23; Ps 91:11,12; 119:165; Jer 31:9; Joh 11:9,10; Ro 9:32,33
1Pe 2:8; 1Jo 2:10,11

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

Context

  • Proverbs 4:11

    I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

  • Proverbs 4:12

    When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

  • Proverbs 4:13

    Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

Read all of Proverbs 4

Proverbs 4:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Cuando anduvieres no se estrecharán tus pasos; y si corrieres, no tropezarás.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Quand tu marcheras, tes pas ne seront pas gênés, et si tu cours, tu ne broncheras pas.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn du gehst, wird dein Schritt nicht beengt werden, und wenn du läufst, wirst du nicht straucheln.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		quas cum ingressus fueris, non arctabuntur gressus tui, et currens non habebis offendiculum.