Proverbs 4 · Verse 15

Proverbs 4:15

Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
Proverbs 4:15, King James Version

Proverbs 4:15 in other translations

BSBAvoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.
WEBAvoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
ASVAvoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on.
YLTAvoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
DARBYavoid it, pass not by it; turn from it, and pass away.
BBEKeep far from it, do not go near; be turned from it, and go on your way.
WebsterAvoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

What does Proverbs 4:15 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 Avoid it - Let it be the serious purpose of thy soul to shun every appearance of evil. Pass not by it - Never, for the sake of worldly gain, or through complaisance to others, approach the way that thou wouldst not wish to be found in when God calls thee into the eternal world. Turn from it - If, through unwatchfulness or unfaithfulness, thou at any time get near or into the way of sin, turn from it with the utmost speed, and humble thyself before thy Maker. And pass away - Speed from it, run for thy life, and get to the utmost distance; eternally diverging so as never to come near it whilst thou hast a being.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 4:14-27

The way of evil men may seem pleasant, and the nearest way to compass some end; but it is an evil way, and will end ill; if thou love thy God and thy soul, avoid it. It is not said, Keep at a due distance, but at a great distance; never think you can get far enough from it. The way of the righteous is light; Christ is their Way, and he is the Light. The saints will not be perfect till they reach heaven, but there…

Read the full comment on Proverbs 4:14-27 →

Proverbs 4:15 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.

פְּרָעֵ֥הוּpe.ra.'E.huavoid itH6544
אַל\־'al-may notH408
תַּעֲבָר\־ta.'a.vor-you pass alongH5674
בּ֑וֹboon it
שְׂטֵ֖הse.Tehturn asideH7847
מֵעָלָ֣יוme.'a.Lavfrom on <the> itH5921
וַעֲבֽוֹר\׃va.'a.Vorand pass onH5674

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

Cross references for Proverbs 4:15

  • Ephesians 5:11

    And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

  • Job 22:23

    If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:22

    Abstain from all appearance of evil.

  • Exodus 23:7

    Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.

  • Job 11:14

    If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

  • Proverbs 5:8

    Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:

  • Isaiah 33:15

    He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

  • Proverbs 6:5

    Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5:8; 6:5; Ex 23:7; Job 11:14; 22:23; Isa 33:15; Eph 5:11; 1Th 5:22

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

Context

  • Proverbs 4:14

    Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

  • Proverbs 4:15

    Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

  • Proverbs 4:16

    For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

Read all of Proverbs 4

Proverbs 4:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Desampárala, no pases por ella; apártate de ella, pasa.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Éloigne-t’en, n’y passe point; détourne-t’en, et passe outre.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Laß ihn fahren, gehe nicht darauf; wende dich von ihm ab und gehe vorbei.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Fuge ab ea, nec transeas per illam; declina, et desere eam.