Proverbs 4:17-27

17 For they 1eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence.
18 But the 2path of the righteous is like the 3light of dawn, That 4shines brighter and brighter until the 5full day.
19 The 6way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they 7stumble.
20 My son, 8give attention to my words; 9Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 10Do not let them depart from your sight; 11Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are 12life to those who find them And 13health to all their body.
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For 14from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you a 15deceitful mouth And 16put devious speech far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26 17Watch the path of your feet And all your 18ways will be established.
27 19Do not turn to the right nor to the left; 20Turn your foot from evil.

Proverbs 4:17-27 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 20

  • 1. Proverbs 13:2
  • 2. Isaiah 26:7; Matthew 5:14; Philippians 2:15
  • 3. 2 Samuel 23:4
  • 4. Daniel 12:3
  • 5. Job 11:17
  • 6. Job 18:5, 6; Proverbs 2:13; Isaiah 59:9, 10; Jeremiah 23:12; John 12:35
  • 7. John 11:10
  • 8. Proverbs 5:1
  • 9. Proverbs 2:2
  • 10. Proverbs 3:21
  • 11. Proverbs 7:1, 2
  • 12. Proverbs 3:22
  • 13. Proverbs 3:8; Proverbs 12:18
  • 14. Matthew 12:34; Matthew 15:18, 19; Mark 7:21; Luke 6:45
  • 15. Proverbs 6:12; Proverbs 10:32
  • 16. Proverbs 19:1
  • 17. Proverbs 5:21; Hebrews 12:13
  • 18. Psalms 119:5
  • 19. Deuteronomy 5:32; Deuteronomy 28:14
  • 20. Proverbs 1:15; Isaiah 1:16

Footnotes 4

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.