Proverbs 14:12

There is a way that seems right to a person, ¹  but its end is the way that leads to death. ² 

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

There's a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again--it leads straight to hell.

There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death.

There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

There is a way that seems right to a person, ¹  but its end is the way that leads to death. ² 

¹ tn Heb “which is straight before a man.”

sn The proverb recalls the ways of the adulterous woman in chapters 1-9, and so the translation of “man” is retained. The first line does not say that the “way” that seems right is “vice,” but the second line clarifies that. The individual can rationalize all he wants, but the result is still the same. The proverb warns that any evil activity can take any number of ways (plural) to destruction.

² tn Heb “the ways of death” (so KJV, ASV). This construct phrase features a genitive of destiny: “ways that lead to [or, end in] death.” Here death means ruin (e.g., Prov 7:27; 16:25). The LXX adds “Hades,” but the verse seems to be concerned with events of this life.