Keep straight the path of your feet

For the phrase “Keep straight the path of your feet,” see Hebrews 12:13.

Note that this quote in the New Testament is not taken from the Hebrew Bible but from the Greek Septuagint (LXX) which translates into English as “Make straight tracks for your feet.” (Translation by NETS — for the Greek version see the title’s tooltip)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 4:26

“Take heed to the path of your feet”: The Revised Standard Version footnote shows that the word translated “Take heed to” is uncertain in meaning. The literal sense is “to make level,” and so some say “Make a level path for your feet,” meaning “be careful as you go.” Others take the expression to mean to plan, consider, or ponder. Note Good News Translation “Plan carefully. . ..” “Path” translates a word that refers to the track made by a wheel or foot. The expression is metaphorical and is expressed well by Good News Translation “Plan carefully what you do. . ..”

“Then all your ways will be sure”: “Be sure” translates a verb meaning to be carried out properly, to be done in a correct manner. For this clause Bible en français courant has “commit your steps to a sure direction.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

complete verse (Proverbs 4:26)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 4:26:

  • Kupsabiny: “Plan your things early like a person who establishes/lays a foundation for the way/path he is going that his movements/journey may not be difficult.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Do what you are about to do,
    having thought it through clearly.
    and take the right way.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Think carefully all you (sing.) will-do so-that its result will-be-good.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “so-that the-path-you (sing.)-walk will be straight and nice/good.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 4:26

4:26

Verse 4:26a gives a command. Verse 4:26b gives the result of obeying the command. The Revised Standard Version has been used as the source line for the first line, because it follows the recommended interpretation.

26a Take heed to the path of your feet, (Revised Standard Version)

26b and all your ways will be sure.

4:26a

(Revised Standard Version) Take heed to the path of your feet: There are two ways to interpret the Hebrew verb that is used here. Both are figurative:

(1) “Carefully consider the path of your feet.” The figurative meaning is: Plan carefully what you will do. For example:

Survey the course you take (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

(2) “Make level/straight the path of your feet.” The figurative meaning is: Remove any obstacles to moral progress as you proceed through life. For example:

Keep straight the path of your feet (New Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It fits better with the preceding and following contexts of looking straight ahead and not swerving off the right path.

Other ways to translate this command are:

• Keep the figurative idea of a path or a journey. For example:

Carefully consider the path that you will take.
-or-
Know where you are headed (Contemporary English Version)

• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

Be careful what you do (New Century Version)

4:26b

and all your ways will be sure: There are two ways to interpret this line:

(1) This line is a statement that gives the result of obeying the command in the first line. For example:

and your ways will be secure (Revised English Bible)

(2) This line is an additional command. For example:

stay on the safe path (New Living Translation (2004))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This interpretation follows normal Hebrew grammatical patterns.

In Hebrew, the verb will be sure is literally “will be firm/stable/established.” This figure of speech refers to walking on solid ground. The nonfigurative meaning is that your actions will have a safe or successful outcome.

Some ways to translate this line are:

• Retain the figure of speech. For example:

and you will stay on solid ground (Contemporary English Version)

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

all your ways will prosper (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
whatever you do will turn out right (Good News Translation)

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