Proverbs 4:18-27

18 But 1the path of the righteous is like 2the light of dawn, which shines 3brighter and brighter until 4full day.
19 5The way of the wicked is like deep 6darkness; they do not know over what they 7stumble.
20 8My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 9Let them not escape from your sight; 10keep them within your heart.
22 For they are 11life to those who find them, and healing to all their[a] flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for 12from it flow 13the springs of life.
24 Put away from you 14crooked speech, and put 15devious talk far from you.
25 16Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.
26 17Ponder[b] the path of your feet; 18then all your ways will be sure.
27 19Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

Proverbs 4:18-27 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 19

  • 1. Job 11:17; Job 22:28; Isaiah 60:3; Isaiah 62:1, 2; Daniel 12:3
  • 2. 2 Samuel 23:4; See Psalms 97:11
  • 3. [Psalms 84:7]
  • 4. [1 John 3:2]
  • 5. 1 Samuel 2:9; Isaiah 59:9, 10; Jeremiah 23:12; John 12:35; [Job 18:5]
  • 6. [Matthew 6:23]
  • 7. [John 11:10; 1 John 2:10]
  • 8. ver. 10
  • 9. Proverbs 3:21
  • 10. [Proverbs 2:1]
  • 11. ver. 13; Proverbs 8:35; Proverbs 21:21; Deuteronomy 32:47; [1 Timothy 4:8]
  • 12. [Matthew 12:35]
  • 13. [Psalms 16:11]
  • 14. Proverbs 6:12
  • 15. Proverbs 2:15
  • 16. [Hebrews 12:2]
  • 17. Proverbs 5:6, 21; [Hebrews 12:13]
  • 18. [Psalms 119:5]
  • 19. 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.