1 Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2 For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
3 For, a son I have been to my father -- tender, And an only one before my mother.
4 And he directeth me, and he saith to me: `Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
7 The first thing `is' wisdom -- get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
9 She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.
10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life `are' multiplied to thee.
11 In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
12 In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
13 Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she `is' thy life.
14 Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
15 Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16 For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not `some' to stumble.
17 For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
18 And the path of the righteous `is' as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,
19 The way of the wicked `is' as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20 My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
21 Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
22 For life they `are' to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
23 Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it `are' the outgoings of life.
24 Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
25 Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways `are' established.
27 Incline not `to' the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
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.