Proverbs 6:22
New International Version
When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.

New Living Translation
When you walk, their counsel will lead you. When you sleep, they will protect you. When you wake up, they will advise you.

English Standard Version
When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.

Berean Standard Bible
When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.

King James Bible
When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

New King James Version
When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you.

New American Standard Bible
When you walk, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you.

NASB 1995
When you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you.

NASB 1977
When you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you.

Legacy Standard Bible
When you walk about, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep watch over you; And when you awake, they will speak to you.

Amplified Bible
When you walk about, they (the godly teachings of your parents) will guide you; When you sleep, they will keep watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you.

Christian Standard Bible
When you walk here and there, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When you walk here and there, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you.

American Standard Version
When thou walkest, it shall lead thee; When thou sleepest, it shall watch over thee; And when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

Contemporary English Version
Their teaching will guide you when you walk, protect you when you sleep, and talk to you when you are awake.

English Revised Version
When thou walkest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall watch over thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When you walk around, they will lead you. When you lie down, they will watch over you. When you wake up, they will talk to you

Good News Translation
Their teaching will lead you when you travel, protect you at night, and advise you during the day.

International Standard Version
During your travels wisdom will lead you; she will watch over you while you rest; and when you are startled from your sleep, she will commune with you.

Majority Standard Bible
When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.

NET Bible
When you walk about, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you.

New Heart English Bible
When you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will talk with you.

Webster's Bible Translation
When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

World English Bible
When you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will talk with you.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
In your going up and down, it leads you, "" In your lying down, it watches over you, "" And you have awoken—it talks [with] you.

Young's Literal Translation
In thy going up and down, it leadeth thee, In thy lying down, it watcheth over thee, And thou hast awaked -- it talketh with thee.

Smith's Literal Translation
In thy going about it shall lead thee; in thy lying down it shall watch over thee; and awaking, it shall speak to thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
When thou walkest, let them go with thee: when thou sleepest, let them keep thee; and when thou awakest, talk with them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
When you walk, let them keep step with you. When you sleep, let them guard you. And when you keep watch, speak with them.

New American Bible
When you lie down they will watch over you, when you wake, they will share your concerns; wherever you turn, they will guide you.

New Revised Standard Version
When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When you walk, let them follow you; let them be with you, keep them that they may keep you; and when you awake, meditate on them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And whenever you walk, make them cleave to you and they will be with you; keep them that they may keep you, and when you are awakened, they will be your meditation.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
When thou walkest, it shall lead thee, When thou liest down, it shall watch over thee; And when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Whensoever thou walkest, lead this along and let it be with thee; that it may talk with thee when thou wakest.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Warnings Against Adultery
21Bind them always upon your heart; tie them around your neck. 22When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. 23For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life,…

Cross References
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9
These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. / And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. / Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ...

Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.

Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. / But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. / He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.

Psalm 119:11
I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.

John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.

John 16:13
However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, / so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

James 1:22-25
Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. / For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, / and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ...

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

Psalm 119:97-99
Oh, how I love Your law! All day long it is my meditation. / Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me. / I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.

Psalm 119:133
Order my steps in Your word; let no sin rule over me.

Isaiah 30:21
And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.”


Treasury of Scripture

When you go, it shall lead you; when you sleep, it shall keep you; and when you wake, it shall talk with you.

Proverbs 2:11
Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

Proverbs 3:23,24
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble…

Psalm 17:4
Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

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Proverbs 6
1. against indebtedness
6. idleness
12. and mischievousness
16. seven things detestable to God
20. the blessings of obedience
25. the mischief of unfaithfulness














When you walk, they will guide you;
This phrase emphasizes the active, daily journey of life. In biblical context, "walking" often symbolizes living according to God's commandments (Deuteronomy 5:33). The "they" refers to the teachings and commandments of wisdom, which are personified throughout Proverbs. The guidance offered is akin to the pillar of cloud and fire that led the Israelites through the wilderness (Exodus 13:21-22), symbolizing divine direction and protection. This guidance is not just for spiritual matters but encompasses all aspects of life, suggesting that God's wisdom is applicable in every situation.

when you lie down, they will watch over you;
The imagery of lying down conveys rest and vulnerability. In ancient Near Eastern culture, night was a time of potential danger, and the assurance of being watched over would have been comforting. This protection is reminiscent of Psalm 121:3-4, where God is described as a vigilant guardian who neither slumbers nor sleeps. The wisdom of God acts as a safeguard, providing peace and security even in times of rest. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God as a shepherd who watches over His flock (Psalm 23:1-4).

when you awake, they will speak to you.
Awakening signifies a new beginning, a fresh start each day. The idea that wisdom "speaks" suggests an ongoing, dynamic relationship with God's teachings. This aligns with the concept of God's mercies being new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). The speaking of wisdom can be seen as the Holy Spirit's role in guiding believers into all truth (John 16:13). It also echoes the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, where God's words are to be upon the heart and discussed throughout the day, indicating that divine wisdom is meant to be a constant companion and counselor.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
- Traditionally considered the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom.

2. Israel
- The nation to whom the wisdom literature, including Proverbs, was originally addressed, providing guidance for living a life pleasing to God.

3. The Path of Wisdom
- A metaphorical journey representing the life of a believer who follows God's commandments and wisdom.
Teaching Points
The Ever-Present Guidance of Wisdom
God's wisdom is not limited to specific times or places; it is a constant guide in every aspect of life, whether we are active, resting, or beginning a new day.

The Protective Nature of God's Commandments
Just as wisdom watches over us, God's commandments provide protection and security, keeping us from harm and leading us in righteousness.

The Voice of Wisdom in Our Lives
Wisdom speaks to us through God's Word, offering counsel and direction. We must be attentive and responsive to its guidance.

Integrating Wisdom into Daily Life
To benefit from wisdom's guidance, we must actively incorporate it into our daily routines, allowing it to shape our decisions and actions.

The Role of Discipline in Following Wisdom
Discipline is essential in adhering to wisdom's path, requiring commitment and intentionality in seeking God's guidance.Verse 22. - The going, sleeping, and awaking occur in the same order in the Pentateuch, from which the ideas of this and the preceding verse are evidently derived (see Deuteronomy 6:7 and Deuteronomy 11:19). Though only specifying three conditions, they refer to the whole conduct of life, and hence the verse promises direction, guardianship, and converse of wisdom, which will undoubtedly attend life where the precepts of parents are lovingly treasured and obediently observed. The Authorized Version conveys the impression that it is "the keeping" of the parents' precepts, etc., which is to bear such results; but it is better to understand "it" as signifying the whole teaching or doctrine of wisdom, as Delitzsch. Wisdom becomes personified in the representation, and identified with her teaching. It shall lead thee. The Hebrew verb nakhah, "to lead," in the sense of "to direct," like the Latin dirigere (Delitzsch), and as it is used in Exodus and Numbers, passim. In the Psalms (Psalm 5:9; Psalm 27:11; Psalm 31:4, etc.) it is employed of God as governing men. Hence, in the affairs of life, Wisdom will so guide and control us that we shall act uprightly. There is the further notion imported into the word of preservation from evil (cf. Proverbs 3:23, "Thou shalt walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble"). When thou sleepest; or, when thou liest down, as in Proverbs 3:25, where the same verb occurs. It shall keep thee; i.e. watch over, keep safe, or preserve; as in the Vulgate, custodire, and the LXX. φυλαττεῖν. We have had the same verb, shamar, before in Proverbs 2:11. Wisdom will be as it were a guardian angel in our hours of repose. When thou awakest; Hebrew, hakitsotha, the hiph. perfect of kutz. This word only occurs here. The hiph. form, hekitz, is intransitive, "to be aroused" (cf. the LXX., ἐγειρομένῳ). It shall talk with thee; rather, she. Bertheau renders, "She will make thee thoughtful;" and Dathe, "Let them be thy meditation;" but the accusative suffix designates the person who is the object of the action of the verb, as in Psalm 5:5; Psalm 42:4; Zechariah 7:5 (Zockler) and as Delitzseh remarks, the personification requires something more than a mere meditation with one's self on the precepts of Wisdom. Wisdom herself shall hold converse with thee (cf. the LXX., συλλαλῇ σοι), she shall suggest thoughts how thou art to behave thyself. The meaning of the verb, "to meditate," "to think deeply," however, need not be lost sight of.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When you walk,
בְּהִתְהַלֶּכְךָ֨ ׀ (bə·hiṯ·hal·leḵ·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

they will guide you;
תַּנְחֶ֬ה (tan·ḥeh)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5148: To guide, to transport

when you
אֹתָ֗ךְ (’ō·ṯāḵ)
Direct object marker | second person masculine singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

lie down,
בְּֽ֭שָׁכְבְּךָ (bə·šā·ḵə·bə·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7901: To lie down

they will watch
תִּשְׁמֹ֣ר (tiš·mōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

over you;
עָלֶ֑יךָ (‘ā·le·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

when you awake,
וַ֝הֲקִיצ֗וֹתָ (wa·hă·qî·ṣō·w·ṯā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6974: Arise, be awake, watch

they
הִ֣יא (hî)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

will speak to you.
תְשִׂיחֶֽךָ׃ (ṯə·śî·ḥe·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7878: To muse, complain, talk (of)


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 6:22 When you walk it will lead you (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 6:21
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