Proverbs 2:8
New International Version
for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.

New Living Translation
He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.

English Standard Version
guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.

Berean Standard Bible
to guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His saints.

King James Bible
He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

New King James Version
He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints.

New American Standard Bible
Guarding the paths of justice, And He watches over the way of His godly ones.

NASB 1995
Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones.

NASB 1977
Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones.

Legacy Standard Bible
To guard the paths of justice, And He keeps the way of His holy ones.

Amplified Bible
He guards the paths of justice; And He preserves the way of His saints (believers).

Christian Standard Bible
so that he may guard the paths of justice and protect the way of his faithful followers.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
so that He may guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His loyal followers.

American Standard Version
That he may guard the paths of justice, And preserve the way of his saints.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he keeps the ways of justice; the ways of his pure ones he will preserve.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
that he may guard the righteous ways: and he will preserve the way of them that fear him.

Contemporary English Version
God sees that justice is done, and he watches over everyone who is faithful to him.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Keeping the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of saints.

English Revised Version
That he may guard the paths of judgment, and preserve the way of his saints.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
in order to guard those on paths of justice and to watch over the way of his godly ones.

Good News Translation
He protects those who treat others fairly, and guards those who are devoted to him.

International Standard Version
guarding the paths of the just and protecting the way of his faithful ones.

JPS Tanakh 1917
That He may guard the paths of justice, And preserve the way of His godly ones.

Literal Standard Version
To keep the paths of judgment, | And He preserves the way of His saints.

Majority Standard Bible
to guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His saints.

New American Bible
Guarding the paths of justice, protecting the way of his faithful ones,

NET Bible
to guard the paths of the righteous and to protect the way of his pious ones.

New Revised Standard Version
guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his faithful ones.

New Heart English Bible
that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his faithful ones.

Webster's Bible Translation
He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

World English Bible
that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his saints.

Young's Literal Translation
To keep the paths of judgment, And the way of His saints He preserveth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Benefits of Wisdom
7He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity, 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.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 2:9
He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness; for by his own strength shall no man prevail.

Psalm 66:9
He preserves our lives and keeps our feet from slipping.

Psalm 97:10
Hate evil, O you who love the LORD! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.


Treasury of Scripture

He keeps the paths of judgment, and preserves the way of his saints.

keepeth

Proverbs 8:20
I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

Psalm 1:6
For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 23:3
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

and

Proverbs 3:21-24
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: …

Deuteronomy 33:3,26-29
Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words…

1 Samuel 2:9
He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

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Care Course Faithful Fear Godly Guard Guarding Guards Judgment Justice Keepeth Keeping Keeps Ones Paths Preserve Preserves Preserveth Preserving Protects Right Saints Watch Way Ways
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Care Course Faithful Fear Godly Guard Guarding Guards Judgment Justice Keepeth Keeping Keeps Ones Paths Preserve Preserves Preserveth Preserving Protects Right Saints Watch Way Ways
Proverbs 2
1. wisdom promises godliness to her children
10. and safety from evil company
20. and direction in good ways














(8) He keepeth the paths of judgment--i.e., protects those who walk in them.

His saints.--Or rather, His ardent worshippers (chasidim), a term used in the Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 33:8) of the tribe of Levi, for their zeal in God's service (Exodus 32), and of very frequent occurrence in the Psalter. The word "saint" rather implies dedication to God, as Israel was a "holy nation (Exodus 19:6) to God, and Christians (Philippians 1:1) are now in the same position. The term ch?sid, at the time of the Maccabees, was assumed by such "as were voluntarily devoted to the law" (1 Maccabees 2:42), in opposition to those who favoured the Greek religion and culture.

Verse 8. - He keepeth the paths of judgment. This verse is explanatory of the latter hemistich of ver. 7, and points out more fully in what way God is a Protector of his saints. Some connect the Hebrew infinitive לִנְצור (lin'tsor), "to watch or keep," with "them that walk uprightly," and translate, "them that walk uprightly by keeping the paths of judgment;" but this is to transfer the idea of protection from God to such persons. The verb signifies specially "to defend, to preserve from danger," as in Proverbs 22:12, "The eyes of the Lind preserve knowledge; i.e. defend or protect it from danger." It is God who "keepeth the paths of judgment," as he alone has the power to do so. He watches over all that walk therein, guides, superin. tends, and protects them. The paths of judgment; or rather, justice, ךארְהות מִשְׁפָט (at'khoth mishpat). The abstract is here used for the concrete, and the phrase means "the paths of the just," i.e. the paths in which the just walk, or "those who walk justly" (Mercerus). This expression corresponds with "the way of his saints," just as "keep" and "preserve" are synonymous verbs, both meaning "to guard, keep safe, or protect." He preserveth the way of his saints. God does this

(1) by his preventing grace, as in Psalm 66:9, "He suffereth not our feet to slip." Cf. Hannah's song, "He will keep the feet of his saints" (1 Samuel 2:9);

(2) by angelic agency, as in Psalm 91:11, "He shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways." The saints are ever under the watchful care and mighty protection of Jehovah. His saints (חֲסִידָו khasidav); i.e. the pious towards God, the godly, those in whose hearts the principles of sanctity have been implanted, and who cherish earnest inward love to God, and "walk righteously" and "speak uprightly" (Isaiah 33:15). It is remarkable that the word saints only occurs once (in this passage) in the Proverbs. During the period of the Maccabaean Wars, a party or sect, which aimed at ceremonial purity, claimed for themselves the title of Chasidim or Asidaeans (Ἀσιδαῖοι), as expressive of their piety or devotion. They are those whom Moses called "men of holiness," Exodus 22:31 (ואֲנְשֵׁיאּקֹדֶשׁ, v'an'shev-kodesh); cf. Psalm 89:5; Psalm 149:1; Psalm 89:8; Deuteronomy 33:3; Daniel 7:18, 22, 22, 25. Under the Christian dispensation, the saints are those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 John 5:1), and who are holy in all manner of conversation (1 Peter 1:25; 1 Macc. 2:42 1 Macc. 7:13; 2 Macc. 14:6); see Bishop Lightfoot, 'Colossians and Philemon,' diss. 2, p. 355.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
to guard
לִ֭נְצֹר (lin·ṣōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5341: To watch, guard, keep

the paths
אָרְח֣וֹת (’ā·rə·ḥō·wṯ)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 734: A well-trodden road, a caravan

of justice
מִשְׁפָּ֑ט (miš·pāṭ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

and protect
יִשְׁמֹֽר׃ (yiš·mōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

the way
וְדֶ֖רֶךְ (wə·ḏe·reḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

of His saints.
חֲסִידָ֣יו (ḥă·sî·ḏāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2623: Kind, pious


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 2:8 That he may guard the paths (Prov. Pro Pr)
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