Proverbs 14:11-12 (ESV)
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
A house is more stable and secure than a tent. But even the temporary and portable tent of the upright will provide more safety than the apparently permanent home of the ungodly. The proverbs frequently use the Hebrew word derek, which means “way.” This term describes a person’s overall lifestyle. One is either on the path of the righteous or the path of the wicked. Sometimes it’s clear that a way will lead to destruction. But at other times, a path can deceive. It can appear to lead to safety, but in the end, leave one far from God. How can we tell which path is right? We must compare what we think and feel to what the Bible says. By examining the Scripture, laying aside our personal desires, and following the Lord’s commands, we can know we will not be ashamed in the end. Genuine faith in Jesus keeps us on the proper road.