Proverbs4
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
2for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
3For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
4He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
5Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
6Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
9She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
10Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
12When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
15Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
16For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
19The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
20My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
21Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart.
22For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
23Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Proverbs 4.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Exhortation to the study of wisdom. (1–13). Cautions against bad company, Exhortation to faith and holiness. (14–27).
vv1-13
We must look upon our teachers as our fathers: though instruction carry in it reproof and correction, bid it welcome. Solomon's parents loved him, therefore taught him. Wise and godly men, in every age of the world, and rank in society, agree that true wisdom consists in obedience, and is united to happiness. Get wisdom, take pains for it. Get the rule over thy corruptions; take more pains to get this than the wealth of this world. An interest in Christ's salvation is necessary. This wisdom is the one thing needful. A soul without true wisdom and grace is a dead soul. How poor, contemptible, and wretched are those, who, with all their wealth and power, die without getting understanding, without Christ, without hope, and without God! Let us give heed to the sayings of Him who has the words of eternal life. Thus our path will be plain before us: by taking, and keeping fast hold of instruction, we shall avoid being straitened or stumbling.
vv14-27
The way of evil men may seem pleasant, and the nearest way to compass some end; but it is an evil way, and will end ill; if thou love thy God and thy soul, avoid it. It is not said, Keep at a due distance, but at a great distance; never think you can get far enough from it. The way of the righteous is light; Christ is their Way, and he is the Light. The saints will not be perfect till they reach heaven, but there they shall shine as the sun in his strength. The way of sin is as darkness. The way of the wicked is dark, therefore dangerous; they fall into sin, but know not how to avoid it. They fall into trouble, but never seek to know wherefore God contends with them, nor what will be in the end of it. This is the way we are bid to shun. Attentive hearing the word of God, is a good sign of a work of grace begun in the heart, and a good means of carrying it on. There is in the word of God a proper remedy for all diseases of the soul. Keep thy heart with all diligence. We must set a strict guard upon our souls; keep our hearts from doing hurt, and getting hurt. A good reason is given; because out of it are the issues of life. Above all, we should seek from the Lord Jesus that living water, the sanctifying Spirit, issuing forth unto everlasting life. Thus we shall be enabled to put away a froward mouth and perverse lips; our eyes will be turned from beholding vanity, looking straight forward, and walking by the rule of God's word, treading in the steps of our Lord and Master. Lord, forgive the past, and enable us to follow thee more closely for the time to come.
Key Words
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
אָב: father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
מוּסָר: properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint
קָשַׁב: to prick up the ears, i.e. hearken
יָדַע: to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)
בִּינָה: understanding
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
נָתַן: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
טוֹב: good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
Cross References
Proverbs 4Uses identical Hebrew imagery of steps not being straitened/stumbling, illustrating safe spiritual progress.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel to turning neither to the right hand nor to the left, keeping on God's path.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Illuminates 'only beloved' or 'as an only son' as an expression of special endearment, like Isaac.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Directly links Wisdom as the 'principal thing' with Job's declaration of wisdom's supreme value.
Supported by JFB
Reinforces the conceptual connection that Wisdom is a 'tree of life' to those laying hold of her.
Supported by JFB
Christ explains how the heart acts as the depository from which good or evil issues forth.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Repeats the imagery of Wisdom bestowing a beautiful ornament/crown of grace on the recipient.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the warning against entering the path of the wicked or standing in the way of sinners.
Supported by JFB
Reinforces the command to thoroughly put away and keep far from the dwelling of evil.
Supported by Matthew Poole