Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I would say that the way that can "seem right" is any course of action or philosophy of life (no matter how "practical" or "popular" it may be) that treats this temporal life as the "be-all and end-all" of existence, and that excludes God and His relationship to humanity (specifically, as revealed in the Bible) from consideration. As the cited verse says, the end result of such an orientation is death (if not immediately or temporally, then eternally).

To me, the point being made is analogous to Jesus' later statement in the Sermon in the Mount about the wide gate and the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14).

February 17 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

Every verse in Chapter 14 provides great examples to help us understand the difference between "right (R) and wrong (W) ways", "wise and foolish ways" and "good and evil ways".

V1
R - wisdom of God enables us to build a firm foundation for life
W - foolishness of man builds a life that collapses by our choices

V2
R - whoever fears [reverence, awe] God walks in righteousness
W - whoever despises God is devious in all their ways

V3
W - a fool's mouth lashes out with pride
R - the lips of wise people protect us from speaking evil

V4
W - those who are lazy have nothing to eat
R - those who work hard have abundant harvests

V5
R - an honest witness does not deceive
W - a false witness pours out lies

V6
W - a mocker seeks wisdom and finds none
R - knowledge comes easily to the discerning

V7
W - fools deceive each other
R - stay away from a fool, no knowledge there

V8
R - the prudent give thought to their ways
W - the folly of fools is deception

V9
W - fools mock at making amends for sins
R - goodwill [making amends] is found among the upright

V10
W - don't mock other people by thinking we know their feelings
R - listen attentively as people share their bitterness and joy

V11
W - the house of the wicked will be destroyed
R - the tent of the upright will flourish

V12
W - following the desires of our human heart leads to death
R - following the desires of God's heart leads to life

V13
W - putting up a false front of laughter only magnifies grief
R - being honest and open about our struggles leads to peace

V14
W - faithless people will be fully repaid for their evil ways
R - good [faithful] people will be rewarded for their ways

V15
W - simple people believe anything
R - prudent people give thought to their ways

V16
R - wise people fear the Lord and shun evil
W - foolish people are hotheaded yet feel secure

V17
W - a quick-tempered person does foolish things
R - a person who controls their temper avoids foolish things
W - a person who devises evil schemes is hated
R - a person who does good is loved

V18
W - the simple person inherits folly
R - the prudent person is crowned with knowledge

V19
W - evildoers will bow down before good and righteous people
R - goodness and righteousness will be victorious in the end

V20
W - human nature shuns the poor and befriends the rich
R - righteous people care for the poor and avoid the temptations of the rich

V21
W - a sinful person despises their neighbour
R - a good person who is kind to the needy is blessed

V22
W - people who plot evil will go astray
R - people who plan what is good find love and faithfulness

V23
W - mere talk about work prospects leads to poverty
R - all hard work brings a profit

V24
R - the wealth of the wise is their crown
W - the folly of fools yields folly

V25
R - a truthful witness saves lives
W - a false witness is deceitful

V26
R - a person who fears the Lord has a secure fortress and a refuge for their children
W - a person who mocks the Lord will be vulnerable, exposed, unprotected, and their children in danger

V27
R - fear of the Lord turns a person to the fountain of life
W - mocking the Lord ensnares a person in death

V28
R - a large population is a king's glory
W - without subjects a prince is ruined

V29
R - a patient person has great understanding
W - a quick-tempered person displays folly

V30
R - a heart at peace gives life to the body
W - envy rots the bones

V31
W - whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker
R - whoever is kind to the needy honours God

V32
W - when calamity comes the wicked are brought down
R - even in death the righteous seek [have] refuge in God

V33
R - wisdom reposes [at home] in the heart of the discerning
W - even among fools wisdom lets herself be known

V34
R - righteousness exalts a nation
W - sin condemns any people

V35
R - a king delights in a wise servant
W - a shameful servant arouses a king's fury

February 17 2021 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

The Wrong Way—The Right Way 
A WAY Proverbs 14:12

1 Turned into Isa. 53:6: “All we like sheep have gone astray, every one hath turned aside into his own way: and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

2 Trusted in Hos.10:13 (CEB
“You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped depravity, you have eaten the fruit of lies, because you have trusted in your way and in your many warriors.”

3 Taught to others Jer.2:33 GW
“You carefully planned ways to look for love. You taught your ways to wicked women.”

Or 

NLV
“How you dress yourself and go after lovers! You have taught your ways even to the sinful women.”

4 Turned upside down Ps.146:9 BDB says that here “way is figurative of course of life, or action, undertakings, etc. לֹא תַצְלִיחַ אֶתדְּֿרָכֶיךָ
(Deuteronomy 28:29; … Ps 146:9) 

Psalm 146:9 says in the AMPC
“The Lord protects and preserves the strangers and temporary residents, He upholds the fatherless and the widow and sets them upright, but the way of the wicked He makes crooked (turns upside down and brings to ruin).”

I have to agree with Grant about the Right Way (R) --

V12
W - following the desires of our human heart leads to death
R - following the desires of God's heart leads to life

The desire of God’s heart is that you choose Jesus as THE WAY John 14:6

Jesus said of Himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” I hope you choose the right way, Jesus! But remember, if you choose Jesus, your world (your life) will be turned upside down (Acts 17:6)!

February 19 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report