Proverbs 4:10-27

Two Ways of Life

10 Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years.
11 I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction; don't let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
14 Don't set foot on the path of the wicked; don't proceed in the way of evil ones.
15 Avoid it; don't travel on it. Turn away from it, and pass it by.
16 For they can't sleep unless they have done what is evil; they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they don't know what makes them stumble.[a]

The Straight Path

20 My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings.
21 Don't lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to one's whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else,[b] for it is the source of life.[c]
24 Don't let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don't let your lips talk deviously.
25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze[d] straight ahead.
26 Carefully consider the path[e] for your feet, and all your ways will be established.[f]
27 Don't turn to the right or to the left;[g] keep your feet away from evil.

Proverbs 4:10-27 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.

Footnotes 7

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