←Proverbs 4→BSB

In This Chapter 22 terms

Key Terms

Wisdom 5 Treat With Honor and Respect 4 Understanding 3 Instruction 2 Love 2 Straightness 2 Understanding (Awareness) Ability (Skill) Ability (Power) World Universe Miracle Ability (Spiritual) Lordship Spiritually To Love Love (Appreciation) Bring Honor and Glory on Oneself Be Worthy of Honor Upright Straight Be Straight

A Father’s Instruction

1Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;pay attention and gain understanding.2For I give you sound teaching;do not abandon my directive.3When I was a son to my father,tender and the only child of my mother,4he taught me and said,“Let your heart lay hold of my words;keep my commands and you will live.5Get wisdom, get understanding;do not forget my words or turn from them.6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you;love her, and she will guard you.
ⓘ Wisdom often leads to better relationships and more...

Wisdom often leads to better relationships and more wealth, but not always.
7Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom.And whatever you may acquire,† gain understanding.8Prize her, and she will exalt you;if you embrace her, she will honor you.9She will set a garland of grace on your head;she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
ⓘ The father offers his children two choices: Avoid...

The father offers his children two choices:

  • Avoid evil to escape its bad effects

  • Choose good for its blessings
10Listen, my son, and receive my words,and the years of your life will be many.
ⓘ Wisdom's paths are straightforward (honest), while a fool's...

  • Wisdom's paths are straightforward (honest), while a fool's paths are dishonest (Proverbs 2:15).

  • When you walk...run: the wise achieve their goals faster and more efficiently.
11I will guide you in the way of wisdom;I will lead you on straight paths.12When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;when you run, you will not stumble.13Hold on to instruction; do not let go.Guard it, for it is your life.14Do not set foot on the path of the wickedor walk in the way of evildoers.15Avoid it; do not travel on it.Turn from it and pass on by.16For they cannot sleepunless they do evil;they are deprived of slumberuntil they make someone fall.17For they eat the bread of wickednessand drink the wine of violence.
ⓘ Light symbolizes wisdom and righteousness, while darkness represents...

Light symbolizes wisdom and righteousness, while darkness represents foolishness and wickedness (see Ecclesiastes 2:12–14). Light reveals actions; darkness conceals them. Righteous people have nothing to hide, but the wicked try to hide their actions and stumble over obstacles in the dark (see Matthew 4:16; 5:14–16; John 1:14; Romans 2:19).
18The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,shining brighter and brighter until midday.19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;they do not know what makes them stumble.
ⓘ pay attention: See also Proverbs 1:8, 23; 2:1;...

pay attention: See also Proverbs 1:8, 23; 2:1; 5:1–2; 7:1–3; 8:1. The child should let these teachings change his personality, symbolized by his heart. Following wisdom for life needs a change of heart.
ⓘ Wise people walk through life looking straight ahead.

Wise people walk through life looking straight ahead.
20My son, pay attention to my words;incline your ear to my sayings.21Do not lose sight of them;keep them within your heart.22For they are life to those who find them,and health to the whole body.23Guard your heart with all diligence,for from it flow springs of life.24Put away deception from your mouth;keep your lips from perverse speech.25Let your eyes look forward;fix your gaze straight ahead.26Make a level path for your feet,†and all your ways will be sure.27Do not swerve to the right or to the left;turn your feet away from evil.