Please Support the Bible Translation Work of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

$5.00

Choose Life and Keep Living

Proverbs 2:20-22 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

²⁰So you will walk in the way of the good men
    and keep to the paths of the righteous.
²¹For the upright will inhabit the land,^[1]
    and the blameless will remain in it,
²²but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
    and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

The young man has only one hope of surviving this seductive moment, and it lies within the wisdom of Jehovah God, if he applies what he knows in a wise way, he will choose the right path, “the road of those who are good and the path of those who are righteous.” Those who choose to walk on the wrong path; it will end with their being cut off from life, which is, eternal destruction. (2 Thess. 1:9; 1 John 2:15-17) On the other hand, those who walk with God in their course of life will receive eternal life! “The upright will inhabit the land and the blameless will remain in it,” while the wicked [sexual sin in this case] will be cut off [in eternal death] from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it” If you pursue wisdom like this young man is being encouraged to do, you can avoid eternal destruction and stay on the path that leads to eternal life. This final teaching here at Proverbs 2:20-22 is like the final words of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount at Matthew 7:13-27. Like the crowds, who “were astounded at Jesus teaching” (Matt. 7:28), we should be astounded at both teachings. (Astounded: (Gr. ekplēssō) This is one who is extremely astounded or amazed, so much so that they lose their mental self-control, as they are overwhelmed emotionally. (Matt. 7:28; Mark 1:22; 7:37; Lu 2:48; 4:32; 9:43; Ac 13:12.) In Deuteronomy 28, God warned the Israelites that they would be cut off from the Promised Land if they were unfaithful was fulfilled, so too, if you are unfaithful, you will be cut off from the land (˒erets), which can also be rendered earth. (Cf. Gen. 1:1) Jesus warns similarly that “‘these [wicked ones] will go away into eternal punishment (Gr. kolasis; that is eternal cutting off, from life. Lit., “lopping off; pruning”), but the righteous into eternal life.’” (Matt. 25:46) Wisdom, knowledge, discernment, understanding, and thinking ability will get one through Satan’s world (2 Cor. 4:3-4), so, how advisable it is now to get wisdom! “Happy is the person who listens to” “the knowledge of God.” – Proverbs 2:5; 8:34-35.