Proverbs 4

Proverbs 4:1

THe instruction of a father] Of me, who take on me the person of a father, and love all you young men, as if ye were mine own children.

Proverbs 4:2

good doctrine] The Hebrew word comes from receiving, to shew, that we are ignorant of our selves, and are bound to receive good instruction, when it is offered by others.

forsake you not my law] My precepts, which are not onely doctrinall instructions, but also rules of life appointed by God, as a divine law.

Proverbs 4:3

For I was my fathers son] My father taught me, and I hearkened to him: so I teach you, and expect that you should hearken unto me.

tender and onely beloved in the sight of my mother] 1 Chronicles 29:1.

onely beloved in the sight of my mother] Beloved, is well added, to shew her singular affection to Solomon, as if she had had no more children; yet had she three more, 1 Chronicles 3:5. Genesis 22:2.

Proverbs 4:4

He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments and live] 1 Chron. 28. 9.

He taught me also] Meaning, David his father: It is probable, that the sum of Davids instructions, he sets down from hence, to the end of the seventh chapter: and then brings in wisdom, speaking in the eighth and ninth chapter: and from thence, to the end of the twentieth fourth chapter, he sets down those Proverbs of his own, which he had set in order in his life time. Then to the end of the twentie ninth chapter, are added Solomons Proverbs, gathered by Hezekias servants. In the thirtieth chapter, is the prophecie of Agur. In the thirtie one chapter, the instruction Solomons mother taught him.

Proverbs 4:5

Get wisdom] In the fifth and sixth verses, he requires that we should purchase wisdom, lay it up in the memory, as in a store-house, not go aside from it on either hand, but obey it constantly, out of love.

Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom is the principall thing] In Hebrew it is thus, The beginning of wisdom is this, Purchase wisdom, yea, with all thy possessions purchase understanding: That is, he that will get wisdom, must first resolve to stick at no price, Matthew 13. 44.

Proverbs 4:8

Exalt her, and she shall promote thee] Have it in high account, and then thou shalt prosper. Worldlings do contrary, they make low account of wisdom, and seek it last, or not at all.

Proverbs 4:9

an ornament of grace] Chap. 1. 9.

a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee] Or, she shall compasse thee with a crown of glory.

Proverbs 4:11

I have taught thee in the way of wisdom] Solomon declareth what care his father had to bring him up in the true fear of God: for this was Davids protestation, which Solomon now repeats.

I have led thee in right paths] Heb. made thee to go: That is, assisted thee by calling upon thee.

Proverbs 4:12

thy steps shall not be strained] Thou shalt walk at liberty without offence.

and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble] Psal. 91. 11, 12.

Proverbs 4:14

Enter not into the path of the wicked] Psalms 1:1. Chap. 1. 10, 15.

and go not in the way of evil men] Come not into it at all, or if by force of temptation thou be brought into it, go not forward in it, but get out of it quickly.

Proverbs 4:15

by it] Heb. through it.

Proverbs 4:16

For they sleep not except they have done mischief] Meaning, that to do evill, is more proper and naturall to the wicked, then to sleep, eat, or drink, Psalms 36:4.

unlesse they cause some to fall] Into povertie, as verse 17.

Proverbs 4:17

they eat the bread of wickednesse] Chap. 9. 17. and 20. 17.

the wine of violence] Heb. violences. That is, gotten by wicked means, and most cruell oppression, Amos 2:8.

Proverbs 4:18

unto the perfect day] Psalms 37:6. Signifying, that the godly encrease daily in honour, till they come to perfection.

Proverbs 4:19

they know not at what they stumble] Like men in the dark they can foresee no dangers, much lesse prevent them, Isaiah 59:10. John 11. 10. 1 John 2. 11.

Proverbs 4:21

Let them not depart from thine eyes] Chap. 3. 3, 21. Or, Let them not make them to depart: That is, let not the wicked (mentioned, verse 19.) make thee neglect obedience to God.

Proverbs 4:22

and health to all their flesh] That is, they shall have health of body: under the which, all other blessings of this life, promised in the law, are contained. See Notes on chap. 3. 8.

health] Heb. medicine.

Proverbs 4:23

Keep thy heart with all diligence] As men keep the heart most of all from wounding, because the wound of it is mortall; so must they, in spirituall affairs, look principally to their thoughts, and afterwards to their tongues, eyes and feet.

with all diligence] Heb. above all keeping.

out of it are the issues of life] Thence comes life naturall, spirituall and eternall.

Proverbs 4:24

a froward mouth, and perverse lips] Heb. frowardnesse of mouth, and perversenesse of lips.

Proverbs 4:25

Let thine eyes look right on] Look to thy way, like a traveller, and look not aside: weigh thy actions beforehand by Gods word: keep the mean, and avoid both extremes.

Proverbs 4:26

let all thy ways be established] Or, all thy ways shall be ordered aright.

Proverbs 4:27

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left] Deuteronomy 5:32. Joshua 1:7.