Proverbs 15:19

“The way of the slothful [man is] as an hedge of thorns, etc.] Or, “strewed with thorns”, as the Septuagint and Arabic versions; the Targum is, “the ways of the slothful are briers and thorns.” Either really being made so by his own conduct; who, by his slothfulness, has implicated and entangled himself in such difficulties, that he cannot extricate himself; his way is not passable, at least not very easily; it is as it were hedged up with thorns; (see <280206>Hosea 2:6); or in his own apprehensions; who raises such difficulties about doing business, which to him seem insurmountable; at least which discourage him from attempting it, it being like breaking through thorns and briers; hence he…”

“The difficulties of the slothful result from want of energy; the righteous find a plain [and open] way--literally, "a highway," by diligence (Sa1 10:7; Psa 1:3).”

“The slothful goes on his journey, and for him the path is thick set with thorns, briars, fences, through which he cannot force his way. For the “righteous” (better, upright), the same path is as the broad raised causeway of the king’s highway. Compare Isaiah 40:3. return to 'Top of Page'”

“An hedge - As a way hedged up with thorns, troublesome, perplexed, and full of difficulties. Plain - Is easy and pleasant to him, notwithstanding all its difficulties. Proverbs 15:22”

“15:19 A lazy person can find all kinds of obstacles (e.g., a path blocked with briers) to avoid work (see 10:4, 26; 12:11, 14; 13:4; 14:4).”

“way of the slothful: Pro 22:5, Pro 22:13, Pro 26:13; Num 14:1-3, Num 14:7-9 the way of the righteous: Pro 3:6, Pro 8:9; Psa 5:8, Psa 25:8, Psa 25:9, Psa 25:12, Psa 27:11; Isa 30:21, Isa 35:8 made plain: Heb. raised up as a causey, Isa 57:14 Proverbs 15:20”

“19 The way of the slothful is as hedged with thorns; But the path of the righteous is paved. Hitzig misses the contrast between אצל (slothful) and ישׁרים (upright), and instead of the slothful reads עריץ, the tyrannical. But is then the slothful ישׁר? The contrast is indeed not that of contradiction, but the slothful is one who does not act uprightly, a man who fails to fulfil the duty of labour common to man, and of his own special calling. The way of such an one is כּמשׂכת חדק, like a fencing with thorns (from חדק, R. חד, to be pointed, sharp, distinguished from Arab. hadḳ, to surround, and in the meaning to fix with the look, denom. of khadaḳt, the apple of the eye), so that he goes not…”