1 My son, H1121 if thou wilt receive H3947 my words, H561 and hide H6845 my commandments H4687 with thee;
2 So that thou incline H7181 thine ear H241 unto wisdom, H2451 and apply H5186 thine heart H3820 to understanding; H8394
3 Yea, if thou criest H7121 after knowledge, H998 and liftest up H5414 thy voice H6963 for understanding; H8394
4 If thou seekest H1245 her as silver, H3701 and searchest H2664 for her as for hid treasures; H4301
5 Then shalt thou understand H995 the fear H3374 of the LORD, H3068 and find H4672 the knowledge H1847 of God. H430
6 For the LORD H3068 giveth H5414 wisdom: H2451 out of his mouth H6310 cometh knowledge H1847 and understanding. H8394
7 He layeth up H6845 H6845 sound wisdom H8454 for the righteous: H3477 he is a buckler H4043 to them that walk H1980 uprightly. H8537
8 He keepeth H5341 the paths H734 of judgment, H4941 and preserveth H8104 the way H1870 of his saints. H2623
9 Then shalt thou understand H995 righteousness, H6664 and judgment, H4941 and equity; H4339 yea, every good H2896 path. H4570
10 When wisdom H2451 entereth H935 into thine heart, H3820 and knowledge H1847 is pleasant H5276 unto thy soul; H5315
11 Discretion H4209 shall preserve H8104 thee, understanding H8394 shall keep H5341 thee:
12 To deliver H5337 thee from the way H1870 of the evil H7451 man, from the man H376 that speaketh H1696 froward things; H8419
13 Who leave H5800 the paths H734 of uprightness, H3476 to walk H3212 in the ways H1870 of darkness; H2822
14 Who rejoice H8056 to do H6213 evil, H7451 and delight H1523 in the frowardness H8419 of the wicked; H7451
15 Whose ways H734 are crooked, H6141 and they froward H3868 in their paths: H4570
16 To deliver H5337 thee from the strange H2114 woman, H802 even from the stranger H5237 which flattereth H2505 with her words; H561
17 Which forsaketh H5800 the guide H441 of her youth, H5271 and forgetteth H7911 the covenant H1285 of her God. H430
18 For her house H1004 inclineth H7743 unto death, H4194 and her paths H4570 unto the dead. H7496
19 None that go H935 unto her return again, H7725 neither take they hold H5381 of the paths H734 of life. H2416
20 That thou mayest walk H3212 in the way H1870 of good H2896 men, and keep H8104 the paths H734 of the righteous. H6662
21 For the upright H3477 shall dwell H7931 in the land, H776 and the perfect H8549 shall remain H3498 in it.
22 But the wicked H7563 shall be cut off H3772 from the earth, H776 and the transgressors H898 shall be rooted out H5255 of it.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 2
Commentary on Proverbs 2 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 2
Pr 2:1-22. Men are invited to seek wisdom because it teaches those principles by which they may obtain God's guidance and avoid the society and influence of the wicked, whose pernicious courses are described.
1-5. Diligence in hearing and praying for instruction must be used to secure the great principle of godliness, the fear of God.
hide … with thee—lay up in store (compare Pr 7:1).
2. Listen attentively and reflect seriously (Pr 1:24; Ps 130:2).
understanding—right perception of truth.
3. Yea, if—literally, "When if," that is, in such a case.
knowledge—or, "discrimination."
understanding—as in Pr 2:2.
4. There must be earnest prayer and effort.
5. understand—or, "perceive intelligently."
find—obtain.
6. For—God is ready (Jas 1:5; 4:8).
out of his mouth—by revelation from Him.
7. sound wisdom—literally, "substance," opposed to what is fictitious. According to the context, this may be assistance, as here corresponding with
buckler—or safety, or wisdom, which procures it (compare Pr 3:21; 8:14; 18:1; Job 6:13; 12:13).
layeth up—provides, ever ready.
8. keepeth … way—God defends the right way, and those in it.
saints—objects of favor (compare Ps 4:3, &c.). He guides and guards them.
9. Then—emphatic, in such a case.
righteousness … path—all parts of duty to God and man.
10, 11. Idea of Pr 2:9, amplified; on terms, compare Pr 2:2 and Pr 2:4.
12-15. To deliver—as from great danger (Pr 6:5).
way … man—(Ps 1:1).
froward things—perversity (Pr 6:14; 23:23), what is opposed to truth.
13. paths of uprightness—or, "plainness."
walk—habitually act;
14. and that with pleasure, in ignorance of good and pursuit of evil.
frowardness—Not only their own perversity, but that of others is their delight. They love most the worst things.
15. crooked—tortuous, unprincipled.
froward—literally, (they) are going back, not only aside from right, but opposite to it.
16-19. Deliverance from another danger.
the strange woman—This term is often used for harlot, or loose woman (Jud 11:1, 2), married (Pr 7:5, 19) or not (1Ki 11:1), so called, because such were, perhaps at first, foreigners, though "strange" may also denote whatever is opposed to right or proper, as "strange fire" (Nu 3:4); "strange incense" (Ex 30:9).
flattereth—literally, "smooths."
her words—(Ps 5:9).
17. guide … youth—lawful husband (Jer 3:4).
covenant … God—of marriage made in God's name.
18. inclineth—sinks down (compare Nu 13:31).
the dead—or shades of the departed (Ps 88:10).
19. that is, such as remain impenitent (compare Ec 7:26).
paths of life—(Ps 16:11), opposed to paths unto the dead.
20. That … way of good—that is, Such is the object of these warnings.
21, 22. (Compare Ps 37:3, 9, 22, 27).
22. transgressors—or impious rebels (compare Jer 9:2).
rooted out—utterly destroyed, as trees plucked up by the roots.