Proverbs 4:14-15
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The verse isn't just telling us to avoid bad influences; it uses two distinct verbs to emphasize the danger. "Enter not" means don't even take the first step or make the initial association, while "go not" warns against continuing or progressing further down that path if you've already stumbled.
Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The father in Proverbs is contrasting the path of wisdom with the dangerous path of evil. Having just urged his son to embrace wisdom (verse 13), he now issues a stark warning: do not even begin to follow the wicked, nor continue if you've taken even a step onto their path, lest you become entangled in their destructive ways. This immediate context highlights that the choice between these two paths is presented as a vital, ongoing decision.
It's easy to think 'just one step won't hurt.' But God's Word warns us about that first step.
Proverbs 4:14 uses two strong verbs to emphasize the urgency of avoiding the wicked path:
The repeated warning highlights that association with the wicked, even casually, is dangerous. The scholars note that the intent is to keep a firm hold on wisdom by actively avoiding the opposite.
The path of the wicked might look appealing, even prosperous. But Proverbs calls us to see beyond the surface.
The verse warns against walking in the 'way of the evil.' This implies not just their actions, but their mindset and values. While the wicked might seem to thrive, this appearance is deceptive.
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The counsel is to resist the temptation to envy or imitate those who seem to prosper through ungodly means, as their outward success is temporary and lacks true substance.
Understand the original words
rasha · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A term describing those who lack moral character or who act in opposition to God’s laws. They are characterized by their departure from the path of righteousness and their influence upon those who follow their ways.
ra'ah · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Refers to moral baseness, harm, or worthlessness. In a biblical context, it signifies actions or people that are fundamentally opposed to God's character and cause ruin to oneself and others.
This Psalm directly contrasts the 'way of the wicked' with the 'way of the righteous,' mirroring Proverbs 4:14's warning against associating with evil.
Proverbs 1:10-15This passage in Proverbs offers a similar, earlier warning against the enticements of sinners, describing their path as one that leads to destruction and urging the reader not to consent.
Romans 12:2Paul's exhortation not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewal of the mind is a New Testament parallel to avoiding the 'path of the wicked' by actively choosing a different way.
1 Corinthians 15:33This verse directly warns that 'bad company ruins good morals,' emphasizing the corrosive influence of the wicked and reinforcing the need to steer clear of their path.
2 Corinthians 6:14The Apostle Paul's question, 'What partnership has righteousness with lawlessness?' serves as a theological basis for Proverbs 4:14, highlighting the fundamental incompatibility of walking with the righteous and the wicked.
gillProverbs 4:14: "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men."
Enter not into the path of the wicked,.... Which leads to eternal death; join not with them in their wicked ways and practices; have no fellowship, keep no company, with them; do not set one foot in the path they tread, lest thou shouldest be tempted to proceed to more ungodliness; you do not know where and when there will be a stop, when once you begin, therefore enter not. The Vulgate Latin version is,…
pulpitProverbs 4:14: "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men."
Verse 14. - From admonition the father passes to warning. The connection with the preceding section is obvious. There are two ways diametrically opposite - the way of wisdom and the way of evil; the one the way of life, the other fraught with death, because a way of darkness and violence. As the father has dealt with the former, so now he deals with the latter. With these warnings we may also comp. Prover…
The verse isn't just telling us to avoid bad influences; it uses two distinct verbs to emphasize the danger. "Enter not" means don't even take the first step or make the initial association, while "go not" warns against continuing or progressing further down that path if you've already stumbled.
The father in Proverbs is contrasting the path of wisdom with the dangerous path of evil. Having just urged his son to embrace wisdom (verse 13), he now issues a stark warning: do not even begin to follow the wicked, nor continue if you've taken even a step onto their path, lest you become entangled in their destructive ways. This immediate context highlights that the choice between these two paths is presented as a vital, ongoing decision.
The father in Proverbs is contrasting the path of wisdom with the dangerous path of evil. Having just urged his son to embrace wisdom (verse 13), he now issues a stark warning: do not even begin to follow the wicked, nor continue if you've taken even a step onto their path, lest you become entangled in their destructive ways. This immediate context highlights that the choice between these two paths is presented as a vital, ongoing decision.
"Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on." — The verse isn't just telling us to avoid bad influences; it uses two distinct verbs to emphasize the danger. "Enter not" means don't even take the first step or make the initial association, while "g…
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Last reviewed October 2026
