1 Hear, H8085 ye children, H1121 the instruction H4148 of a father, H1 and attend H7181 to know H3045 understanding. H998
2 For I give H5414 you good H2896 doctrine, H3948 forsake H5800 ye not my law. H8451
3 For I was my father's H1 son, H1121 tender H7390 and only H3173 beloved in the sight H6440 of my mother. H517
4 He taught H3384 me also, and said H559 unto me, Let thine heart H3820 retain H8551 my words: H1697 keep H8104 my commandments, H4687 and live. H2421
5 Get H7069 wisdom, H2451 get H7069 understanding: H998 forget H7911 it not; neither decline H5186 from the words H561 of my mouth. H6310
6 Forsake H5800 her not, and she shall preserve H8104 thee: love H157 her, and she shall keep H5341 thee.
7 Wisdom H2451 is the principal thing; H7225 therefore get H7069 wisdom: H2451 and with all thy getting H7075 get understanding. H998
8 Exalt H5549 her, and she shall promote H7311 thee: she shall bring thee to honour, H3513 when thou dost embrace H2263 her.
9 She shall give H5414 to thine head H7218 an ornament H3880 of grace: H2580 a crown H5850 of glory H8597 shall she deliver H4042 to thee.
10 Hear, H8085 O my son, H1121 and receive H3947 my sayings; H561 and the years H8141 of thy life H2416 shall be many. H7235
11 I have taught H3384 thee in the way H1870 of wisdom; H2451 I have led H1869 thee in right H3476 paths. H4570
12 When thou goest, H3212 thy steps H6806 shall not be straitened; H3334 and when thou runnest, H7323 thou shalt not stumble. H3782
13 Take fast hold H2388 of instruction; H4148 let her not go: H7503 keep H5341 her; for she is thy life. H2416
14 Enter H935 not into the path H734 of the wicked, H7563 and go H833 not in the way H1870 of evil H7451 men.
15 Avoid H6544 it, pass H5674 not by it, turn H7847 from it, and pass away. H5674
16 For they sleep H3462 not, except they have done mischief; H7489 and their sleep H8142 is taken away, H1497 unless they cause some to fall. H3782 H3782
17 For they eat H3898 the bread H3899 of wickedness, H7562 and drink H8354 the wine H3196 of violence. H2555
18 But the path H734 of the just H6662 is as the shining H5051 light, H216 that shineth H215 more H1980 and more unto the perfect H3559 day. H3117
19 The way H1870 of the wicked H7563 is as darkness: H653 they know H3045 not at what they stumble. H3782
20 My son, H1121 attend H7181 to my words; H1697 incline H5186 thine ear H241 unto my sayings. H561
21 Let them not depart H3868 from thine eyes; H5869 keep H8104 them in the midst H8432 of thine heart. H3824
22 For they are life H2416 unto those that find H4672 them, and health H4832 to all their flesh. H1320
23 Keep H5341 thy heart H3820 with all diligence; H4929 for out of it are the issues H8444 of life. H2416
24 Put away H5493 from thee a froward H6143 mouth, H6310 and perverse H3891 lips H8193 put far H7368 from thee.
25 Let thine eyes H5869 look H5027 right on, H5227 and let thine eyelids H6079 look straight H3474 before thee.
26 Ponder H6424 the path H4570 of thy feet, H7272 and let all thy ways H1870 be established. H3559
27 Turn H5186 not to the right hand H3225 nor to the left: H8040 remove H5493 thy foot H7272 from evil. H7451
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 4
Commentary on Proverbs 4 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 4
Pr 4:1-27. To an earnest call for attention to his teachings, the writer adds a commendation of wisdom, preceded and enforced by the counsels of his father and teacher. To this he adds a caution (against the devices of the wicked), and a series of exhortations to docility, integrity, and uprightness.
1, 2. (Compare Pr 1:8).
to know—in order to know.
doctrine—the matter of learning (Pr 1:5), such as he had received (La 3:1).
3. father's son—emphatic, a son specially regarded, and so called tender, as an object of special care (compare 1Ch 22:7; 29:1); an idea further expressed by
only beloved—or, "as an only son" (Ge 22:2), though he had brothers (see on 1Ch 3:5).
4. He taught—or directed me.
retain—as well as receive.
keep … and live—observe, that you may live (Pr 7:2).
5. Get—as a possession not to be given up.
neither decline—that is, from obeying my word.
6. Not only accept but love wisdom, who will keep thee from evil, and evil from thee.
7. (Compare Job 28:28).
getting—or possession; a desire for wisdom is wise.
8. As you highly esteem her, she will raise you to honor.
embrace her—with fond affection.
9. ornament—such as the chaplet or wreath of conquerors.
deliver—(Compare Ge 14:20). The allusion to a shield, contained in the Hebrew, suggests protection as well as honor (compare Pr 4:6).
10. (Compare Pr 2:1; 3:2).
11, 12. way of wisdom—which it prescribes.
led thee—literally, "caused thee to tread," as a path (Ps 107:7).
not be straitened—have ample room (Ps 18:36).
13. (Compare Pr 3:18). The figure of laying hold with the hand suggests earnest effort.
14. (Compare Ps 1:1). Avoid all temptations to the beginning of evil.
16, 17. The reason is found in the character of sinners, whose zeal to do evil is forcibly depicted (Pr 6:4; Ps 36:5). They live by flagrant vices (Pr 1:13). Some prefer to render, "Their bread is wickedness, their drink violence" (compare Job 15:16; 34:7).
18, 19. As shining light increases from twilight to noonday splendor, so the course of the just increases in purity, but that of the wicked is as thickest darkness, in which one knows not on what he stumbles.
20-22. (Compare Pr 4:10, 13; Pr 3:8, &c.).
22. health … flesh—by preserving from vices destructive of health.
23. with all diligence—or, "above," or "more than all," custody (compare Margin), all that is kept (compare Eze 38:7), because the heart is the depository of all wisdom and the source of whatever affects life and character (Mt 12:35; 15:19).
24. a froward mouth—that is, a mouth, or words of ill nature. The Hebrew word differs from that used (Pr 2:15; 3:32).
perverse—or, "quarreling."
lips—or, "words."
25. Let … before thee—that is, pursue a sincere and direct purpose, avoiding temptations.
26. Ponder—Consider well; a wise course results from wise forethought.
27. (Compare Pr 4:25). Avoid all by-paths of evil (De 2:27; 17:11). A life of integrity requires attention to heart, speech, eyes, and conduct.