Proverbs 28:18

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Proverbs 28:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Whoso walketh uprightly shall be delivered; But he that is perverse in [his] ways shall fall at once.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Whoso walketh uprightly shall be delivered; But he that is perverse in [his] ways shall fall at once.
Proverbs 28:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Proverbs 28

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18Whoso walketh uprightly shall be delivered; But he that is perverse in [his] ways shall fall at once.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved, Or “be safe”f788 from those that seek his life, plot against him, shoot at him, as the wicked do at the upright in heart, but the Lord protects him; and it is even well with him in times of public calamities; the Lord has his chambers and hiding places for him; and he is safe from falling, as may be gathered from the opposite clause; for he walks surely, and is in the hands of Christ, and is kept by him from a final and total falling away: and he shall be saved also with an everlasting salvation; from sin, and all the effects of it; from the curse of the law, from wrath to come, from hell and damnation. Not that his upright walk is the cause of this;…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“(Compare Pro 10:9; Pro 17:20). Double dealing is eventually fatal.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“In his ways - Rather “in his double ways” (as in Proverbs 28:6). The evil of vacillation rather than that of craft, the want of the one guiding principle of right, is contrasted with the straightforwardness of the man that “walketh uprightly.” Shall fall at once - Better, shall fall in one of them (his ways). The attempt to combine incompatibilities is sure to fail. Men cannot serve God and Mammon. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“At once - Once for all; so he shall never rise more. Proverbs 28:20”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“walketh: Pro 10:9, Pro 10:25, Pro 11:3-6; Psa 25:21, Psa 26:11, Psa 84:11; Gal 2:14 but: Pro 28:6; Num 22:32; Psa 73:18-20, Psa 125:5; Th1 5:3; Pe2 2:1-3; Rev 3:3 Proverbs 28:19”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“18 He who walketh blamelessly is helped, And he who is perverse in a double way suddenly perisheth. The lxx translate תמים by δικαίως (as the accusative of manner), Aquila and Theodotion by τέλειος; but it may also be translated τέλειον or τελειότητα, as the object accus. of Pro 2:7. Instead of עקּשׁ דּרכים, Pro 28:6, there is here נעקּשׁ דּרכים, obliquely directed in a double way, or reflex bending himself. At Pro 28:6 we have interpreted the dual דּרכים rightly, thus בּאחת cannot refer back to one of these two ways; besides, דּרך as fem. is an anomaly, if not a solecism. בּאחת signifies, like the Aram. כּחרא, either all at once (for which the Mish. כּאחת, Aram. כּחרא), or once (=…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification