Proverbs 2:9-19

9 Then you will discern 1righteousness and justice And equity and every 2good course.
10 For 3wisdom will enter your heart And 4knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11 Discretion will 5guard you, Understanding will watch over you,
12 To 6deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks 7perverse things;
13 From those who 8leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the 9ways of darkness;
14 Who 10delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil;
15 Whose paths are 11crooked, And who are devious in their ways;
16 To 12deliver you from the strange woman, From the 13adulteress who flatters with her words;
17 That leaves the 14companion of her youth And forgets the 15covenant of her God;
18 For 16her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead;
19 None * 17who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the 18paths of life.

Proverbs 2:9-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 2

This chapter directs to the means of attaining to the knowledge of divine things, and shows the profit and advantage arising from thence. The means are, embracing the doctrines of the Gospel, and retaining in memory and affection the ordinances of it, Pr 2:1; and an inclination of the ear and an application of the heart to the knowledge of these things, Pr 2:2. An earnest and importunate desire, expressed by prayer, after the same, Pr 2:3; and a diligent and unwearied search for them, as for silver and hid treasure, Pr 2:4. The advantages are, that such shall attain to the fear and knowledge of God; which may be concluded from these being the gift of God to his people, and from their being laid up for them, whom he carefully keeps and preserves, Pr 2:5-8; and not only so, but such learn to do that which is just and right among men, Pr 2:9. And, besides, such is the nature of divine wisdom, that, when it has once got a place in the heart and in the affections, it will be a means of preserving both from the ways of evil men, Pr 2:10-12; who are described, Pr 2:13-15. And from the evil woman, whose character is given, Pr 2:16,17; whose vicious course of life, and the ways she leads persons into, are represented as very dangerous, Pr 2:18,19. And, on the contrary, such is the usefulness of true wisdom, that it leads into the way of good men, who will be happy and safe, when the wicked shall be destroyed, Pr 2:20-22.

Cross References 18

  • 1. Proverbs 8:20
  • 2. Proverbs 4:18
  • 3. Proverbs 14:33
  • 4. Proverbs 22:18
  • 5. Proverbs 4:6; Proverbs 6:22
  • 6. Proverbs 28:26
  • 7. Proverbs 6:12
  • 8. Proverbs 21:16
  • 9. Psalms 82:5; Proverbs 4:19; John 3:19, 20
  • 10. Proverbs 10:23; Jeremiah 11:15
  • 11. Psalms 125:5; Proverbs 21:8
  • 12. Proverbs 6:24; Proverbs 7:5
  • 13. Proverbs 23:27
  • 14. Malachi 2:14, 15
  • 15. Genesis 2:24
  • 16. Proverbs 7:27
  • 17. Ecclesiastes 7:26
  • 18. Psalms 16:11; Proverbs 5:6

Footnotes 3

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