Proverbs 4:10-20

10 Listen, my son, receive what I say, and the years of your life will be many.

11 I'm directing you on the way of wisdom, guiding you in paths of uprightness;

12 when you walk, your step won't be hindered; and if you run, you won't stumble.

13 Hold fast to discipline, don't let it go; guard it, for it is your life.

14 Don't follow the path of the wicked or walk on the way of evildoers.

15 Avoid it, don't go on it, turn away from it, and pass on.

16 For they can't sleep if they haven't done evil, they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone fall.

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining ever brighter until full daylight.

19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; they don't even know what makes them stumble.

20 My son, pay attention to what I am saying; incline your ear to my words.

Proverbs 4:10-20 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.