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Proverbs 4:27

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4:27Do not turn59 to the right or to the left;

turn yourself60 away from evil.61

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Footnotes

  1. 59 The two verbs in this verse are from different roots, but nonetheless share the same semantic domain. The first verb is תֵּט (tet), a jussive from נָטָה (natah), which means “to turn aside” (Hiphil); the second verb is the Hiphil imperative of סוּר (sur), which means “to cause to turn to the side” (Hiphil). The disciple is not to leave the path of righteousness; but to stay on the path he must leave evil.
  2. 60 Heb “your foot” (so , , ). The term רַגְלְךָ (raglékha, “your foot”) is a synecdoche of part (= foot) for the whole person (= “yourself”).
  3. 61 The adds, “For the way of the right hand God knows, but those of the left hand are distorted; and he himself will make straight your paths and guide your goings in peace.” The ideas presented here are not out of harmony with Proverbs, but the section clearly shows an expansion by the translator. For a brief discussion of whether this addition is Jewish or early Christian, see C. H. Toy, Proverbs (), .

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Do not swerve to the right or to the left;

turn your foot away from evil.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Do not turn to the right or the left;

keep your foot from evil.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Don’t turn to the right or to the left;

keep your feet away from evil.

NLTNew Living Translation

Don’t get sidetracked;

keep your feet from following evil.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Do not swerve right or left;

remove your foot from evil.

KJV 1900King James Version

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left:

Remove thy foot from evil.