Proverbs 16:17 (ASV)

Passage

The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 16:15 In the light of the king`s countenance is life; And his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.

Proverbs 16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.

Proverbs 16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride [goeth] before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:19 Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "highway", "upright", "depart", "evil", "keepeth", "preserveth", and "soul". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "highway" and "upright", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "How much better is it to get..." into verse 18's "Pride goeth before destruction And a haughty...", so "highway" and "upright" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "highway" and "upright" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.