Proverbs 4

HEar, ye children, the instruction of a father Of me your Teacher, who have paternal authority over you and affection to you., and attend to know understanding.

For I give you good doctrine Not vain or foolish or false or pernicious counsels, but such as are true and profitable., forsake ye not my Law God's Law or Commands delivered to you by my mouth. See on Chap. 3. 1..

For I was my fathers son In a special manner, his best-beloved Son and designed to be his Successor in the Throne., tender Young and tender in years and capable of any impressions and tenderly educated. and only beloved Heb. only, or the only Son: Or rather, because Bathsheba seems to have had other Sons, 1 Chro. 5. 1. as an only Son, as dearly beloved as an only Son: in which sense this Title is given to Isaac, Gen. 22. 2. 12, 16. though he had another Son, and to others. And all these circumstances are mentioned to show the necessity and great benefit of wholesome instruction, which his Royal Parents would not neglect, no not in his tender years, and thereby to prepare and excite them by his example to receive instruction. in the sight of my mother.

He taught me also, and said unto me The following Verses, at least as far as the Tenth Verse, are propounded as the words of David, that the Name of so great a King and Holy a Prophet might add the more Authority and Efficacy to his Counsels., Let thine heart retain my words, keep my commandments and live i. e. Thou shalt live. It is a promise in the form of a command, as Chap. 3. 25..

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not, neither decline from the words of my mouth From the belief and practice of my Word..

Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her He intimates, that it is not enough to do what is good, which may somtimes proceed from worldly or sinful Motives, but that we must have a sincere and fervent love to it., and she shall keep thee.

Wisdom is the principal thing The most excellent of all possessions., therefore get wisdom: and with all Even with the price of all, though it cost thee the loss of all which thou hast. Or, in or among all. Whilst you labour for other things, do not neglect this. thy getting get understanding.

Exalt her Let her have thine highest esteem and affection., and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour Both with God and men: which Solomon knew by experience., when thou dost embrace her.

She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace i. e. An acceptable or beautiful ornament, such as they used to put upon their heads.: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings: and the years of thy life shall be many.

I have taught thee in the way of wisdom Either, 1. which precureth Wisdom. Or 2. which Wisdom directeth thee to walk in.: I have led thee in right paths.

When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitned Thou shalt manage thine affairs with great facility and safety and success. It is a Metaphor from those who walk in a strait and uneven path, where they are apt to stumble and fall., and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble Not miscarry..

Take fast hold of instruction, let her not go; keep her, for she is thy life The conducter, and preserver, and comfort of thy life..

Enter not into the path of the wicked Avoid their courses and company., and go not * in the way of evil men. x Do not proceed further. If thou hast unadvisedly entred into it, do not persist in it, but get thee speedily out of it.

Avoid it, pass not by it Keep at a great distance from it. Compare Iob 22. 23 Prov. 5. 8., turn from it Shun all occasions of sin., and pass away.

For they sleep not They cannot compose themselves to sleep with quietness and satisaction to their own minds except they have done mischief: and their sleep is taken away unless they cause some to fall Into their own Snares, either into sin, or into mischief..

For they eat the bread of wickedness The sense is either, 1. Wickedness is as necessary and as pleasant to them as their Bread. Which suits well with the former Verse. Or, 2. They live wholly upon what they get by wicked courses. Which gives the reason of what he last said, why they could not sleep without prey., and drink the wine of violence i. e. Gotten by violence. See on the former Clause..

But the path of the just is as the shining light The common course of their lives or actions is pure and spotless, clear and certain, safe and comfortable, as light is., that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Just men do daily more and more grow in knowledge, and grace, and consolation, until all be perfected and swallowed up in glory..

The way of the wicked is as darkness Full of gross ignorance and errour, of uncertainty and confusion, of wickedness of danger and misery: all which come under the name of darkness in Scripture use, and suit well with the context.: they know not at what they stumble Heb. shall stumble. Though they are always in danger, yet they are always secure, and do not discern their danger nor the cause, or manner, or time of their ruine, till they be surprized with it..

My Son, attend to my words: incline thine ear unto my sayings.

Let them not depart from thine eyes: keep them in the midst of thine heart Heartily love them and stedfastly retain them..

For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

Keep thy heart Thy mind and thoughts, and especially the will and affections, which are the more immediate and effectual cause of all mens actions. with all diligence: for out of it are the issues of life From thence proceed all the actions, as of the natural, so of the Spiritual life, which lead to Eternal life and happiness, as on the contrary all evil actions tending to Death spring from thence, which is here implied..

Put away from thee a froward mouth All sorts of sinful words, which proceed from and discover an evil Heart., and perverse lips put far from thee.

Let thine Eyes look right on Direct all thine actions by a good intention to a right end, and keep thy mind fixed upon that way which leads to it, and neither look nor turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, as it follows v. 27., and let thine eye-lids look straight before thee.

Ponder the path of thy feet Consider thine actions before thou doest them, and see that they agree with the Rule., and let all thy ways be established Let thine Actions be uniformly and constantly good in spight of all temptations to the contrary. Or, Let thy ways be directed or disposed aright, as this Hebrew word signifies. Or, thy ways shall be established. So this is a promise to confirm the foregoing Precept, If thou doest ponder them, thou mayest expect God's blessing and good success in them..

27: Turn not to the right hand, nor to the left Fly all extreams, and neither add to God's commands nor take from them.: remove thy foot from evil.