15:19

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

19a
The way of the slacker is like a hedge of thorns,

19b but the path of the upright is a highway.

15:19a–b

The way of the slacker…the path of the upright: In Proverbs, the parallel metaphors of way and path often represent a person’s conduct. Here, however, they are used in a context that is very similar to 11:5a. They represent a person’s progress toward meeting his goals in life. The contrast is between the life pathway followed by a slacker and the path followed by an upright person.

slacker…upright: A slacker is a lazy person. An upright person is someone who does what is right and honest. For upright, see the note on 11:3a.

is like a hedge of thorns…is a highway: This proverb compares the life of a lazy person to a path/road that is blocked by thorn bushes. Another way to translate the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as like a hedge of thorns is:

overgrown with thorns (New Revised Standard Version)

In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “like a thorn hedge.” A thorn hedge represents obstacles that block a person’s way. So the meaning of this simile is that a lazy person’s life is full of obstacles or difficulties. These difficulties keep him from reaching his goals.

By contrast, the life of an upright person is compared to a highway. His efforts to meet his goals are like traveling on a broad, level road that has been cleared of obstacles.

Some ways to translate these figures of speech are:

• Use a simile in both lines. For example:

19a A lazy person’s life is like a patch of thorns, 19b but an honest person’s life is like a smooth highway. (New Century Version)

• Use similes and make explicit the points of similarity. For example:

19a If you are lazy, ⌊your aims in life will be blocked.⌋ You will be like a person who tries to force his way through a thorny hedge. 19b But if you are someone who does what is right, ⌊your plans will not be blocked.⌋ You will be like a person walking along a smooth road.

• State the meaning without using figures of speech. For example:

A lazy person has trouble all through life; the path of the upright is easy! (New Living Translation (1996))

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