Proverbs 4:19-27

19 1The way of the wicked is like deep 2darkness; they do not know over what they 3stumble.
20 4My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 5Let them not escape from your sight; 6keep them within your heart.
22 For they are 7life to those who find them, and healing to all their[a] flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for 8from it flow 9the springs of life.
24 Put away from you 10crooked speech, and put 11devious talk far from you.
25 12Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.
26 13Ponder[b] the path of your feet; 14then all your ways will be sure.
27 15Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

Proverbs 4:19-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 4

In this chapter Solomon advises to seek after wisdom, to avoid bad company, and to continue in the right paths of goodness and truth: he excites attention to what he had to say, from the relation he stood in to the persons addressed; from the nature of his instructions, which were good and profitable; and from his own example, in attending to those his parents gave him, Pr 4:1-4; He exhorts above all things to get wisdom, from the superior excellency of it, and from the preservation, promotion, and honour, to be had by it, Pr 4:5-9; and he further enforces big exhortations, from their being the means of a comfortable life, and of the prolongation of it, and of leading in a right way without straitness or stumbling, Pr 4:10-13. And then proceeds to caution against bad company, and going into a bad way of life; which is enforced from the mischief done by those that walk in it, and from the darkness of it, to which the path of the just is opposed, Pr 4:14-19. And the exhortation to attend to and observe his instructions, and keep them, is repeated, from the consideration of their being life and health to them, Pr 4:20-22; and that they might be preserved, and not departed from, direction's are given about ordering the heart, mouth, lips, eyes, and feet, Pr 4:23-27.

Cross References 15

  • 1. 1 Samuel 2:9; Isaiah 59:9, 10; Jeremiah 23:12; John 12:35; [Job 18:5]
  • 2. [Matthew 6:23]
  • 3. [John 11:10; 1 John 2:10]
  • 4. ver. 10
  • 5. Proverbs 3:21
  • 6. [Proverbs 2:1]
  • 7. ver. 13; Proverbs 8:35; Proverbs 21:21; Deuteronomy 32:47; [1 Timothy 4:8]
  • 8. [Matthew 12:35]
  • 9. [Psalms 16:11]
  • 10. Proverbs 6:12
  • 11. Proverbs 2:15
  • 12. [Hebrews 12:2]
  • 13. Proverbs 5:6, 21; [Hebrews 12:13]
  • 14. [Psalms 119:5]
  • 15. Deuteronomy 5:32; Deuteronomy 28:14; Joshua 1:7; 1 Kings 15:5

Footnotes 2

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.