Proverbs 4:14–15
A father warns: don't enter the path of the wicked; avoid it and pass on by
Study it word by word14Into the path of the wicked do not enter, and do not walk in the way of evil men.
15Avoid it; do not pass through it; turn aside from it and pass on.
In its context
12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; and if you run, you will not stumble.
13Take hold of correction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.
…
16For they do not sleep unless they have done evil, and their sleep is robbed unless they make someone stumble.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and the wine of violence they drink.
Its words in the original
- אֹרַחorach· path, way
Way, path; one's usual manner. "The way of women" is menstruation. Also a caravan.
- רְשָׁעִיםreshaim· wicked
Wicked: one who does evil and is guilty before God and before others.
- תָּבֹאtavo· come, go in, bring
Come, arrive, go in, enter. In the causative form, "bring" or "carry in". "Go in to" a woman is to have marital relations with her.
- תְּאַשֵּׁרteasher· call happy; walk straight
Call someone happy, congratulate them. Elsewhere, walk straight, go forward, lead.
- דֶרֶךְderech· way
Way, road, journey. Figuratively, the way one lives or acts.
- רָעִיםraim· evil, bad, harm
Bad; evil. It includes what is morally wrong and also what does harm: misfortune, disaster, distress.
- פְּרָעֵperae· let loose, let go
Let loose, let go unrestrained: let the hair hang loose; also hold someone back from work, or neglect.
- תַּעֲבָרtaavar· pass, cross over
Pass by, pass through, cross over; also go beyond, transgress (a command). In the causative form, make pass, bring across, take away.
- שְׂטֵהsete· go astray
Turn aside, go astray from the right way.