Proverbs 10:9

Choosing How You Will Live

Commonplace –

“He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known” (Proverbs 10:9).

In Proverbs 10:9, Solomon tells us that a man who walks uprightly, walks surely, but the man who walks in perverted ways, will be known for his wicked ways. Both men, the upright and the perverted will be known for their character. The difference between them is the upright man walks surely in his uprightness, secure in being known by his righteous character, while the man with perverted ways will be outed by his own evil actions.

There are plenty of examples of men with perverted ways all over the news, so let’s turn our focus to the upright man. Matthew Henry gives the following illuminating description of the righteous man:

“He that walks uprightly towards God and man, that is faithful to both, that designs as he ought and means as he says, walks surely; he is safe under a divine protection and easy in a holy security. He goes on his way with a humble boldness, being well armed against the temptations of Satan, the troubles of the world, and the reproaches of men. He knows what ground he stands on, what guide he follows, what guard he is surrounded with, and what glory he is going to, and therefore proceeds with assurance and great peace” (691).

Works Cited

“Proverbs 10:9”. Biblehub.com. https://biblehub.com/proverbs/10-9.htm#google_vignette. Accessed Day Mo Yr.

Henry, Matthew. “Proverbs 10:9.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

© 2025 Angela Hormberg