Proverbs 2:13
New International Version
who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways,

New Living Translation
These men turn from the right way to walk down dark paths.

English Standard Version
who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness,

Berean Standard Bible
from those who leave the straight paths to walk in the ways of darkness,

King James Bible
Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

New King James Version
From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness;

New American Standard Bible
From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness;

NASB 1995
From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness;

NASB 1977
From those who leave the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness;

Legacy Standard Bible
From those who forsake the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness;

Amplified Bible
From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness;

Christian Standard Bible
from those who abandon the right paths to walk in ways of darkness,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
from those who abandon the right paths to walk in ways of darkness,

American Standard Version
Who forsake the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness;

Contemporary English Version
who turned from doing good to live in the darkness.

English Revised Version
Who forsake the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
from those who abandon the paths of righteousness to walk the ways of darkness,

Good News Translation
those who have abandoned a righteous life to live in the darkness of sin,

International Standard Version
and from those who abandon the right path to travel along the ways of darkness;

Majority Standard Bible
from those who leave the straight paths to walk in the ways of darkness,

NET Bible
who leave the upright paths to walk on the dark ways,

New Heart English Bible
who forsake the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

Webster's Bible Translation
Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

World English Bible
who forsake the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Who are forsaking paths of uprightness, "" To walk in ways of darkness,

Young's Literal Translation
Who are forsaking paths of uprightness, To walk in ways of darkness,

Smith's Literal Translation
Those forsaking the paths of straightness to go in the ways of darkness;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who leave the right way, and walk by dark ways:

Catholic Public Domain Version
from those who leave the straight path to walk in dark ways,

New American Bible
From those who have left the straight paths to walk in the ways of darkness,

New Revised Standard Version
who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Who forsake the path of uprightness to walk in the way of darkness;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Who leave the upright way and they walk in the way of darkness.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Who leave the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Alas for those who forsake right paths, to walk in ways of darkness;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Benefits of Wisdom
12to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perversity, 13from those who leave the straight paths to walk in the ways of darkness, 14from those who enjoy doing evil and rejoice in the twistedness of evil,…

Cross References
John 3:19-20
And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. / Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

Romans 1:21-22
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,

Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

1 John 1:6
If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

2 Corinthians 6:14
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

Isaiah 5:20
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Matthew 7:13-14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. / But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.

1 John 2:9-11
If anyone claims to be in the light but hates his brother, he is still in the darkness. / Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him. / But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

2 Peter 2:15
They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.

Jeremiah 13:10
These evil people, who refuse to listen to My words, who follow the stubbornness of their own hearts, and who go after other gods to serve and worship them, they will be like this loincloth—of no use at all.

John 12:35
Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

Romans 13:12-13
The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. / Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

Isaiah 59:9
Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We hope for light, but there is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in gloom.

2 Timothy 3:13
while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.


Treasury of Scripture

Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

leave

Proverbs 21:16
The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

Psalm 14:3
They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Ezekiel 18:26
When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.

walk

Proverbs 4:19
The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

Job 24:13-16
They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof…

John 3:19,20
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil…

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Dark Darkness Forsake Forsaking Leave Paths Righteousness Roads Straight Uprightness Walk Way Ways
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Proverbs 2
1. wisdom promises godliness to her children
10. and safety from evil company
20. and direction in good ways














from those who leave
This phrase suggests a deliberate departure or abandonment. The Hebrew root word here is "עזב" (azab), which means to forsake or leave behind. In the context of Proverbs, this departure is not accidental but a conscious decision to turn away from wisdom and righteousness. Historically, this reflects the Israelites' frequent turning away from God's commandments, as seen throughout the Old Testament. It serves as a warning against the allure of sin and the importance of steadfastness in one's faith journey.

the straight paths
The "straight paths" symbolize a life of righteousness and adherence to God's wisdom. The Hebrew word "ישר" (yashar) conveys the idea of being upright, correct, or level. In biblical times, a straight path was not only easier to travel but also safer, free from the dangers and pitfalls of a crooked road. This imagery is used throughout Scripture to represent living in accordance with God's will, emphasizing the clarity and safety found in following divine guidance.

to walk
The act of walking implies a continuous, habitual action. In Hebrew, "הלך" (halak) is often used to describe one's manner of life or conduct. Walking in a certain way suggests a lifestyle choice, a daily commitment to a particular path. This reflects the biblical understanding that faith is not static but an ongoing journey, requiring daily decisions to follow God's ways.

in the ways of darkness
"Darkness" in Scripture often symbolizes ignorance, evil, and separation from God. The Hebrew word "חשך" (choshek) conveys a sense of obscurity and danger. Historically, darkness was feared for its association with the unknown and unseen threats. In a spiritual sense, walking in darkness means living in sin and moral confusion, away from the light of God's truth. This phrase serves as a stark contrast to the "straight paths," highlighting the peril of choosing a life apart from divine wisdom and guidance.

Verse 13. - Who leave the paths of uprightness. Between vers. 13 and 15 the teacher proceeds to give a more detailed description of those who speak perversely. Who leave (הַעֹזְבִים haoz'vim); literally, forsaking, but the present participle has the force of the preterite, as appears from the context. The men alluded to have already forsaken or deserted the paths of uprightness (see previous note on the word "man." The paths of uprightness (אָרְחות יֹשֶׁר ar'khoth yosher); the same as the "right paths" of ch. 4:11. The strict meaning of the Hebrew word translated "uprightness" is "straightness," and hence it stands opposed to "perverseness" in the previous verse. Uprightness is integrity, rectitude, honest dealing. The LXX. translators represent the forsaking of the paths of uprightness as a consequence resulting from walking in the ways of darkness, "O ye who have left the right ways by departing [τοῦ πορεύεσβαι, equivalent to abeundo] into the ways of darkness." Again, the ways of darkness (דַרְכֵי חשֶׁך, dar'chey kkoshek) are opposed to the "paths of uprightness" which rejoice in the light. Darkness includes the two ideas of

(1) ignorance and error (Isaiah 9:2; Ephesians 5:8), and

(2) evil deeds.

To walk in the ways of darkness, then, is to persist in a course of wilful ignorance, to reject deliberately the light of knowledge, and to work wickedness, by performing "the works of darkness (τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκύτους)," which St. Paul exhorted the Church at Rome to east away (Romans 13:12), and by having fellowship with "the unfruitful works of darkness (τὰ ἔργα τὰ ἀκάρπα τοῦ σκότους)," against which the same apostle warned the Ephesians (Ephesians 5:11). They are ways of darkness, because they endeavour to hide themselves from God (Isaiah 29:15) and from man (Job 24:15; Job 38:13, 15). In their tendency and end they lead to the blackness of darkness forever. In Scripture darkness is associated with evil, just as light is with uprightness (see John 3:19, 20). The same association of ideas is discoverable in the dualism of the Persian system, as formulated by Zoroaster - Ormuzd, the good principle, presides over the kingdom of light, while Ahriman, the principle of evil, is the ruler of the kingdom of darkness.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
from those who leave
הַ֭עֹ֣זְבִים (ha·‘ō·zə·ḇîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5800: To loosen, relinquish, permit

the straight
יֹ֑שֶׁר (yō·šer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3476: Straightness, uprightness

paths
אָרְח֣וֹת (’ā·rə·ḥō·wṯ)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 734: A well-trodden road, a caravan

to walk
לָ֝לֶ֗כֶת (lā·le·ḵeṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

in the ways
בְּדַרְכֵי־ (bə·ḏar·ḵê-)
Preposition-b | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

of darkness,
חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃ (ḥō·šeḵ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2822: The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 2:13 Who forsake the paths of uprightness (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 2:12
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