Proverbs 2:9

9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment; and shalt direct all thy course aright.

Proverbs 2:9 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 2:9

Then shalt thou understand righteousness and judgment
This is another fruit and effect of the Gospel, and of a spiritual understanding of it; that besides the knowledge of God, and how to behave with reverence towards him, ( Proverbs 2:5 ) ; it leads men into a notion of doing that which is right and just among men; it gives them not only a theoretic but a practical understanding of justice, and a true judgment of what is right and wrong; or gives such an understanding thereof as that they practise it; for it teaches men to live soberly, righteously, and godly, ( Titus 2:11 Titus 2:12 ) . It is not only a revelation and ministration of the righteousness of Christ as the only matter of a sinner's justification before God; and informs a man's judgment so that he can distinguish between truth and error, right and wrong, good and bad notions and practices; but it influences his actions, life, and conversation, and engages him to do works of righteousness from the best principles, upon the best motives, and with the best views; and equity; [yea], every good path;
that is, so to understand equity, as to do that which is equitable between man and man; and to understand every good path which the word of God directs to, even all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, so as to walk in them; these things the Gospel acquaints men with, and urges them to observe: or the words may be rendered, either "the rectitude" or "equity of fall good paths", as the Syriac version; how just, and right, and plain, and equitable, everyone is, and therefore ought to be walked in; or "plainnesses", or "most plain", is or shall be "every good path" F18, to them that have a spiritual and experimental knowledge of the Gospel; and by it an understanding of their duty. One word signifies "plain" and "straight", and another "round" F19, and both are true of the path of righteousness; for though it is a circle of duty saints walk in, yet straight and plain.


FOOTNOTES:

F18 So Schmidt.
F19 (Myrvym) "complanationes", Schultens; (lgem) "orbitam", Montanus; "ab (lge) rotundus", Gejerus.

Proverbs 2:9 In-Context

7 and he treasures up salvation for them that walk uprightly: he will protect their way;
8 that he may guard the righteous ways: and he will preserve the way of them that fear him.
9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment; and shalt direct all thy course aright.
10 For if wisdom shall come into thine understanding, and discernment shall seem pleasing to thy soul,
11 good counsel shall guard thee, and holy understanding shall keep thee;

Footnotes 1

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.