1.
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
children = sons.
instruction = correction, or admonition.
know understanding = learn discernment.
2.
For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
3.
For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
son. The Hebrew accent ( Dechi ) emphasizes this word to show (1) his own early training (Proverbs 4:3 ); (2) those whom he would instruct (verses: Proverbs 4:1 , Proverbs 4:2 ); (3) his instruction (verses: Proverbs 4:5-9 .)
only beloved = unique.
in the sight of my mother. A special various reading, called Sevir ( App-34 ), reads "of my mother's sons". So in some codices, with several early printed editions.
4.
He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
Keep = Take heed to.
live: i.e. live again, in resurrection life. See note on Leviticus 18:5 . Earthly life could he enjoyed without keeping commandments.
5.
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Get wisdom: Proverbs 4:6 tells how to do it.
it = her.
words = sayings. Hebrew. imrah. See App-73 .
6.
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
her: i.e. wisdom.
preserve = guard.
keep = protect, as one protects the apple of one's eye. See note on Proverbs 4:23 .
7.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Wisdom . . . wisdom. Hebrew in four words, "Beginning wisdom get wisdom" = as the principal thing, get wisdom.
8.
Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
when = because. Hebrew. ki.
9.
She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
A crown = A diadem.
glory = beauty: i.e. a beautiful diadem.
deliver = deliver fully and freely. Hebrew. magan (a rare word). Occurs only in Genesis 14:20 , here, and Hosea 11:8 .
10.
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
my son. See note on Proverbs 1:8 .
sayings. Hebrew. imrah. See App-73 .
the years of thy life shall be many = [my sayings] shall grow greater [through] the years of thy life. The verb denotes increase of size, not merely numbers. See notes on Proverbs 3:2 , Proverbs 3:16 ; Proverbs 10:27 . The verb here is masculine, but "years of life" is feminine. The verb therefore refers to "sayings".
11.
I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
taught = directed.
12.
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
When thou goest: or, as thou walkest; i.e. however hedged in our path seems, it opens out as we go forward.
when thou runnest = if thou runnest. To walk is obligatory; to run is optional.
13.
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
Take fast hold. The Hiphils of this clause are emphatic.
let her not go = do not let her go.
she = she herself. Emphatic.
14.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Enter not. Note the Figure of speech Synonymia ( App-6 ) in the verbs of verses: Proverbs 4:14 , Proverbs 4:15 . Illustrations: Lot (Genesis 13:10-13 ); Solomon (2 Kings 23:13 . Compare with 1 Kings 11:5 ); Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 18:1 ; 2 Chronicles 21:6 . Compare with 2 Chronicles 19:2 ; 2 Chronicles 22:2 , 2Ch 22:3 , 2 Chronicles 22:10 , and Proverbs 6:27 , Proverbs 6:28 ).
wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha. App-44 .
evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
15.
Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
Avoid = let that go; referring to Proverbs 4:14 . Note the Figure of speech Synonymia. App-6 .
away = on.
16.
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
For. Hebrew. im l'o = because; i.e. the reason why they sleep not is because they mean mischief, and because they intend an occasion of stumbling.
17.
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
bread. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part) for food in general.
of = obtained. Genitive of Origin. App-17 (2).
wickedness = lawlessness. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .
wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 .
of violence = obtained by violence. Genitive of Origin. App-17 (2).
18.
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
But. Marking the contrast between the growth of wickedness (verses: Proverbs 4:16 , Proverbs 4:17 ), and the growth of wisdom leading in right paths (verses: Proverbs 4:11 , Proverbs 4:12 ).
the shining light = the dawning of day: advancing and brightening till noon.
perfect = stable part, when the sun seems stationary on the meridian. Illustrations: Jacob (Genesis 49:10 , Genesis 49:18 . Hebrews 11:21 ); Nathanael (John 1:46-51 ); Eunuch (Acts 8:27-39 ).
19.
The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
way of the wicked. Illustrations: Korah (Numbers 16:16-19 ); Ahab (1 Kings 16:31 ); Babylon (Isaiah 47:11 ); Jews (Jeremiah 5:19 , Jeremiah 5:25 ; Jeremiah 44:15-23 .Ezekiel 18:29 . Acts 28:25 , Acts 28:26 ).
as. Some codices, with one early printed edition, read "in".
20.
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
words. Hebrew. dabar. App-73 .
21.
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
depart = get away from.
22.
For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
health = healing.
23.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Keep . . . with all diligence. Above all that must be guarded. The preposition M (hebrew character) marks the place or person that keeps: the meaning being, guard the heart as the great citadel, for out of it are the source and outgoings of life. Same word as in verses: Proverbs 6:13 . Not the same word as in verses: Proverbs 4:21 .
froward. See notes on Proverbs 2:12 and Proverbs 6:12 , the only other examples of frowardness of mouth.
(23-27) Note the Alternation in these verses. Positive. Heart. Negative. Mouth. Positive. Eyes. 27. Negative. Feet.
24.
Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25.
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26.
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Ponder the path, &c. Illustrations: Abraham (Genesis 24:1-9 . See note on Proverbs 3:5 , Proverbs 3:6 ); Eleazar (Genesis 24:5 ); Joshua (Proverbs 24:15 ); Ruth (Proverbs 1:16-18 ); David (Psalms 39:1 ); Hezekiah (Psalms 119:50 ); The good wife (Proverbs 31:27 ); Daniel (Proverbs 1:8 ; Proverbs 6:3 , Proverbs 6:4 ); contrast Asa (2 Chronicles 16:1-9 ). 2Ch 5:1-23 (B p. 865). THE FOREIGN WOMAN.
27.
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.