Proverbs 4:14-27

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

Proverbs 4:14-27 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 22

  • 1. Proverbs 1:15; Psalms 1:1
  • 2. [Psalms 36:4]
  • 3. [Amos 2:8]
  • 4. Job 11:17; Job 22:28; Isaiah 60:3; Isaiah 62:1, 2; Daniel 12:3
  • 5. 2 Samuel 23:4; See Psalms 97:11
  • 6. [Psalms 84:7]
  • 7. [1 John 3:2]
  • 8. 1 Samuel 2:9; Isaiah 59:9, 10; Jeremiah 23:12; John 12:35; [Job 18:5]
  • 9. [Matthew 6:23]
  • 10. [John 11:10; 1 John 2:10]
  • 11. ver. 10
  • 12. Proverbs 3:21
  • 13. [Proverbs 2:1]
  • 14. ver. 13; Proverbs 8:35; Proverbs 21:21; Deuteronomy 32:47; [1 Timothy 4:8]
  • 15. [Matthew 12:35]
  • 16. [Psalms 16:11]
  • 17. Proverbs 6:12
  • 18. Proverbs 2:15
  • 19. [Hebrews 12:2]
  • 20. Proverbs 5:6, 21; [Hebrews 12:13]
  • 21. [Psalms 119:5]
  • 22. 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.