Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
The verse commands staying on the straight path of right conduct without turning to the right hand or to the left, by watching one's ways closely and removing the foot from evil. Remaining on that path depends on God's grace and on holding firmly to help from above rather than on human effort. God restrains on both sides to keep a person from either extreme so that service for God can continue, as was shown when a husband was preserved in a balanced course by the work of God.
For the young the call is to begin with a holy purpose and through grace to continue in right conduct, since taking a wrong direction brings peril and leads farther from truth and safety and success. In personal conduct this means guarding against self-will and severity and dictating to others and overbearing speech, because such behavior can become a habit and damage the work and destroy the confidence and respect of others. The feet remain on an even path by a steady, upright course held by help from above.
Careful obedience matters because of influence on others, for careful attention to conduct and turning away from evil is required lest a reckless act or imprudent step expose others to strong temptation and set harmful consequences in motion. By contrast a good example strengthens the good purposes of others and helps them do good. Watchfulness is urgent because the character of every desire and purpose is fully clear before God as the sun in the heavens, and life must now meet God's requirements so the feet do not slide. If sudden or accidental death should surprise a person in unfaithfulness, the future is fearful, ending in being weighed in the balance and found wanting and losing heaven rather than earth.
The verse commands staying on the straight path of right conduct without turning to the right hand or to the left, by watching one's ways closely and removing the foot from evil. Remaining on that path depends on God's grace and on holding firmly to help from above rather than on human effort. God restrains on both sides to keep a person from either extreme so that service for God can continue, as was shown when a husband was preserved in a balanced course by the work of God.
For the young the call is to begin with a holy purpose and through grace to continue in right conduct, since taking a wrong direction brings peril and leads farther from truth and safety and success. In personal conduct this means guarding against self-will and severity and dictating to others and overbearing speech, because such behavior can become a habit and damage the work and destroy the confidence and respect of others. The feet remain on an even path by a steady, upright course held by help from above.
Careful obedience matters because of influence on others, for careful attention to conduct and turning away from evil is required lest a reckless act or imprudent step expose others to strong temptation and set harmful consequences in motion. By contrast a good example strengthens the good purposes of others and helps them do good. Watchfulness is urgent because the character of every desire and purpose is fully clear before God as the sun in the heavens, and life must now meet God's requirements so the feet do not slide. If sudden or accidental death should surprise a person in unfaithfulness, the future is fearful, ending in being weighed in the balance and found wanting and losing heaven rather than earth.