Proverbs 17:19 (KJV)

Passage

He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 17:18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

Proverbs 17:19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

Proverbs 17:20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

Proverbs 17:21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "loveth", "transgression", "strife", "exalteth", "gate", "seeketh", and "destruction". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "loveth" and "transgression", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 18's "A man void of understanding striketh hands..." into verse 20's "He that hath a froward heart findeth...", so "loveth" and "transgression" 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 "loveth" and "transgression" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.