Proverbs 2:9
New International Version
Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.

New Living Translation
Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go.

English Standard Version
Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;

Berean Standard Bible
Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity—every good path.

King James Bible
Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

New King James Version
Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path.

New American Standard Bible
Then you will discern righteousness, justice, And integrity, and every good path.

NASB 1995
Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course.

NASB 1977
Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then you will understand righteousness and justice And equity—every good track.

Amplified Bible
Then you will understand righteousness and justice [in every circumstance] And integrity and every good path.

Christian Standard Bible
Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity—every good path.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity—every good path.

American Standard Version
Then shalt thou understand righteousness and justice, And equity, yea, every good path.

Contemporary English Version
With wisdom you will learn what is right and honest and fair.

English Revised Version
Then shalt thou understand righteousness and judgment, and equity, yea, every good path.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then you will understand what is right and just and fair- every good course [in life].

Good News Translation
If you listen to me, you will know what is right, just, and fair. You will know what you should do.

International Standard Version
Then you will understand what is right, just, and upright—every good path.

Majority Standard Bible
Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity—every good path.

NET Bible
Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity--every good way.

New Heart English Bible
Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; and every good path.

World English Bible
Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Then you understand righteousness, "" And judgment, and uprightness—every good path.

Young's Literal Translation
Then understandest thou righteousness, And judgment, and uprightness -- every good path.

Smith's Literal Translation
Then thou shalt understand justice and judgment and uprightness; every good track.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then shalt thou understand justice, and judgment, and equity, and every good path.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then you shall understand justice and judgment, and equity, and every good path.

New American Bible
Then you will understand what is right and just, what is fair, every good path;

New Revised Standard Version
Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then you will understand righteousness and justice and the uprightness of all good ways.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Then you will understand righteousness and justice and uprightness of all excellent ways
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then shalt thou understand righteousness and justice, And equity, yea, every good path.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgement; and shalt direct all thy course aright.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Benefits of Wisdom
8to guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His saints. 9Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity— every good path. 10For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will delight your soul.…

Cross References
Psalm 119:104-105
I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every false way. / Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”

James 3:13-18
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. / But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. / Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ...

Psalm 25:8-9
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way. / He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.

Hebrews 5:14
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Psalm 37:30
The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.

1 Corinthians 2:14-16
The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. / The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. / “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

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.

Philippians 1:9-11
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, / so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, / filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Psalm 119:130
The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.

1 John 2:27
And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught.

Jeremiah 9:24
But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth—for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.

Ephesians 5:8-10
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, / for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. / Test and prove what pleases the Lord.


Treasury of Scripture

Then shall you understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yes, every good path.

Proverbs 1:2-6
To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; …

Psalm 25:8,9
Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way…

Psalm 32:8
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

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Acting Behaviour Course Discern Equity Fair Good Judgment Justice Path Right Righteousness Understand Understandest Upright Uprightness Way
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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














Then you will discern
The word "then" indicates a result or consequence of prior actions or conditions. In the context of Proverbs 2, it follows the pursuit of wisdom and understanding. The Hebrew root for "discern" is "בִּין" (bin), which means to understand or perceive. This suggests a deep, insightful comprehension that goes beyond surface-level knowledge. In a spiritual sense, it implies that through the diligent search for wisdom, one gains the ability to see things as they truly are, aligning with God's perspective.

righteousness
The Hebrew word for "righteousness" is "צֶדֶק" (tsedeq), which encompasses justice, rightness, and moral integrity. In the biblical context, righteousness is not merely about legalistic adherence to rules but living in a way that reflects God's character. It involves a heart aligned with God's will, leading to actions that are just and fair. Historically, righteousness was a key attribute of leaders and judges in Israel, expected to uphold God's standards in their governance.

and justice
"Justice" in Hebrew is "מִשְׁפָּט" (mishpat), referring to judgment, law, and the act of deciding a case. It is a central theme in the Old Testament, emphasizing the importance of fairness and impartiality. Justice is a reflection of God's nature, who is described as a just judge. In the ancient Near Eastern context, justice was foundational to societal stability and peace, ensuring that the rights of all, especially the marginalized, were protected.

and equity
The term "equity" is translated from the Hebrew "מֵישָׁרִים" (mesharim), meaning uprightness or fairness. It conveys the idea of evenness and straightness, suggesting a level playing field where all are treated with fairness and impartiality. In biblical wisdom literature, equity is closely associated with wisdom, as it guides one to make decisions that are fair and just, reflecting God's equitable nature.

every good path
The phrase "every good path" implies a comprehensive understanding and ability to choose the right course in life. The Hebrew word for "path" is "אָרַח" (orach), which can mean a way, road, or journey. In Proverbs, the path is often a metaphor for one's life journey and moral choices. A "good path" is one that aligns with God's wisdom and leads to life, blessing, and fulfillment. It contrasts with the path of the wicked, which leads to destruction. This phrase encapsulates the promise that those who seek wisdom will be guided in all aspects of life, making choices that honor God and benefit themselves and others.

Verse 9. - Then (אָז, az), repeated from ver. 5, introduces the second apodosis. As the former referred to God, so this appears to refer more especially to man, and thus we have stated the whole benefit, in its twofold aspect, which Wisdom confers on those who diligently seek her. It is not to be affirmed, however, that righteousness and judgment and equity refer exclusively to man; they must represent some aspects of our relationship to God, both from the meaning of the words themselves, and because the law which regulates our dealings and intercourse with man has its seat in the higher law of our relation to God. Righteousness, and judgment, and equity. These three words occur in the same collocation in Proverbs 1:3, which see. Yea, every good path. "Yea" does not occur in the original. The expression is a summarizing of the three previous conceptions, as if the teacher implied that all good paths are embraced by and included in "righteousness, and judgment, and equity;" but the term is also comprehensive in the widest degree. The literal translation is "every path of good" (כְּל־מַעְגֻּל־טוב, cal-ma'gal-tov), i.e. every course of action of which goodness is the characteristic, or, as the Authorized Version, "every good path," the sense in which it was understood by St. Jerome, omnem orbitam bonam. The word here used for "path" is מַעְגַּל (ma'gal), "the way in which the chariot rolls" (Delitzsch), and metaphorically a course of action, as in Proverbs 2:15; Proverbs 4:26.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then
אָ֗ז (’āz)
Adverb
Strong's 227: At that time, place, therefore

you will discern
תָּ֭בִין (tā·ḇîn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

righteousness
צֶ֣דֶק (ṣe·ḏeq)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6664: The right, equity, prosperity

and justice
וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט (ū·miš·pāṭ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

and equity—
וּ֝מֵישָׁרִ֗ים (ū·mê·šā·rîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4339: Evenness, prosperity, concord, straightness, rectitude

every
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

good
טֽוֹב׃ (ṭō·wḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

path.
מַעְגַּל־ (ma‘·gal-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4570: An entrenchment, track


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 2:9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice (Prov. Pro Pr)
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