Proverbs 4 · Verse 27

Proverbs 4:27

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Proverbs 4:27, King James Version

Proverbs 4:27 in other translations

BSBDo not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
WEBDon’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
ASVTurn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil.
YLTIncline not to the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
DARBYTurn not to the right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from evil.
BBELet there be no turning to the right or to the left, keep your feet from evil.
WebsterTurn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

What does Proverbs 4:27 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
27. (Compare Pr 4:25). Avoid all by-paths of evil (De 2:27; 17:11). A life of integrity requires attention to heart, speech, eyes, and conduct.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left - Avoid all crooked ways. Be an upright, downright, and straight-forward man. Avoid tricks, wiles, and deceptions of this kind. To this the Septuagint and Vulgate add the following verse: Αυτος δε ορθας ποιησει τας τροχιας σου, τας δε πορειας σου εν ειρηνη προαξει. Ipse autem rectos faciet cursus tuos; itinera autem tua in pace producet. "For himself will make thy paths straight and thy journeyings will he conduct in prosperity." The Arabic has also a clause to the same effect. But nothing like this is found in the Hebrew, Chaldee, or Syriac; nor in the Vulgate, as printed in the Complutensian Polyglot; nor in that of Antwerp or of Paris; but it is in the Greek text of those editions, in the editio princeps of the Vulgate, in five of my own MSS., and in the old MS. Bible. De Lyra rejects the clause as a gloss that stands on no authority. If an addition, it is certainly very ancient; and the promise it contains is true whether the clause be authentic or not.

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 4:27 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.

אַֽל\־'al-may notH408
תֵּט\־tet-you turn asideH5186
יָמִ֥יןya.MinrightH3225
וּשְׂמֹ֑אולu.se.Moland leftH8040
הָסֵ֖רha.Serturn asideH5493
רַגְלְךָ֣rag.le.Khafoot yourH7272
מֵרָֽע\׃me.Ra'from evilH7451

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

Cross references for Proverbs 4:27

  • Deuteronomy 5:32

    Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

  • Joshua 1:7

    Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

  • Deuteronomy 28:14

    And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

  • Proverbs 16:17

    The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

  • Deuteronomy 12:32

    What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

  • Isaiah 1:16

    Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

  • Romans 12:9

    Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Turn.
De 5:32; 12:32; 28:14; Jos 1:7
remove.
16:17; Isa 1:16; Ro 12:9

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

Context

  • Proverbs 4:26

    Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

  • Proverbs 4:27

    Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Read all of Proverbs 4

Proverbs 4:27 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No te apartes á diestra, ni á siniestra: aparta tu pie del mal.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		N’incline ni à droite ni à gauche; éloigne ton pied du mal.
German
Elberfelder 1871		biege nicht aus zur Rechten noch zur Linken, wende deinen Fuß ab vom Bösen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ne declines ad dexteram neque ad sinistram; averte pedem tuum a malo: vias enim quæ a dextris sunt novit Dominus: perversæ vero sunt quæ a sinistris sunt. Ipse autem rectos faciet cursus tuos, itinera autem tua in pace producet.