Proverbs 16:25 (LSB)

Passage

There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 16:23 The heart of the wise gives insight to his mouth And increases learning to his lips.

Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 16:25 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Proverbs 16:26 A worker’s appetite works for him, For his mouth urges him on.

Proverbs 16:27 A vile man digs up evil, And the words on his lips are like scorching fire.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "seems", "right", and "death". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "seems" and "right", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 24's "Pleasant words are a honeycomb Sweet to..." into verse 26's "A worker s appetite works for him...", so "seems" and "right" 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 "seems" and "right" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.