Provérbios 4

J. Vernon McGee · Citado em PreceptAustin

Provérbios 4

McGee - This portrays for us how the evil man and the stranger woman live. They can’t even sleep unless they have done some evil thing. You read of crimes and say, “I don’t see how a man could do a thing like that; I don’t see how a woman could live that kind of life. How can they stand to live with themselves?” My friend, these folk couldn’t live with themselves if they didn’t do these wicked things. We do not know how desperate and how deep into sin the human heart can go. There is nothing which the human mind and heart cannot conceive in wickedness. We need to realize that out in this world we are rubbing shoulders with many people who are not always nice. Of course there will be some wonderful people, but we need to be careful of the kind of people we meet. When I was a pastor in downtown Los Angeles and rode to work on the freeways, I would pray. (When you ride these freeways in Southern California, you do well to pray for your safety, but actually, I prayed about something else.) My prayer would be something like this: “Lord, I’m going to meet new people today. Some of those people I will be able to help. Some of them would like to hurt me. Help me to be able to tell the difference. Help me to put my arm around the man who needs my help, but help me to avoid the man who would put a knife in my back.” I think it is important that we recognize the kind of world in which we live. I have learned that there are certain men who will become true friends, bosom friends, and I thank God for them. It is men like that who made my radio ministry possible. Then there have been men who have tried to destroy it—yet they profess to be Christians. It is difficult to understand their thinking. The human heart is not to be trusted. We need to be very careful; we need to have discernment as we meet mankind in our daily walk. Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. BGT Proverbs 4:18 αἱ δὲ ὁδοὶ τῶν δικαίων ὁμοίως φωτὶ λάμπουσιν προπορεύονται καὶ φωτίζουσιν ἕως κατορθώσῃ ἡ ἡμέρα NET Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, growing brighter and brighter until full day. NLT Proverbs 4:18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. ESV Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. NIV Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. KJV Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. LXE Proverbs 4:18 But the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go on and shine, until the day be fully come. ASV Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day. CSB Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. NKJ Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. NRS Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. YLT Proverbs 4:18 And the path of the righteous is as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established, 2Sa 23:4 Job 11:17 23:10 Ps 84:7 Ho 6:3 Zec 14:6,7 Mt 5:14,16,45 Joh 8:12 2Co 3:18 Php 2:15 2Pe 1:19 3:18 Rev 21:23 22:5 SUNRISE OVER SEA OF GALILEE But - Blessed term of contrast marking a 180 degree change of direction in lifestyle. the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day - "He proceeds from virtue to virtue, until at length he shines like the sun in its strength." (Thomas Brooks) "The path of the wicked is dark and increasingly so. Yet the path of those who get wisdom—the path of the just—grows brighter." (Guzik) Bridges - This is not the feeble light of a candle, nor the momentary blaze of the meteor, but the grand illumination of heaven.” Adam

Provérbios 4

McGee - Solomon wrote this, and he is talking about his own father. Notice that he says, “I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.” There are those who feel that the father’s heart was wrapped up in his boy Solomon. I don’t see it like that. In my opinion the historical books reveal that Solomon was not the first choice of his father. This boy, reared in the women’s palace, was more or less of a sissy. I think he was a sort of playboy, and David did not have much in common with him. Solomon says, “I am my father’s son, but it was my mother who really loved me and taught me.” Kitchen - Solomon now speaks autobiographically, concurring with his father David’s assessment of him as ‘tender’ (1 Chron. 22:5; 29:1). Following the death of David and Bathsheba’s first child, Solomon was the first of their four other sons (2 Sam. 12:24; 1 Chron. 3:5), making him their only son for a time. When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother - (cf 1 Chr 22:5, 1 Chr 29:1) To be a son to my father conveys the sense that Solomon was under David's authority. "Waltke explains that the sense here is of a true son, true in a spiritual and moral sense. Even as a rebellious child could be disowned in Israel (Deuteronomy 21:18–21 and 32:19–20), an obedient son was regarded as true in every sense.:1 Chronicles 3:5 indicates that Bathsheba had other sons through David, but Solomon was her special son, God’s chose heir to the throne of Israel. “Though Abraham had other sons, only Isaac is called his yahid (Genesis 22:2, 12, 16) to emphasize the special status of Sarah’s offspring.” (Waltke)" (Guzik) POSB on tender - Tender refers to the early, innocent years of a child’s life when his or her heart is soft and impressionable. David knew that his son would not be tender like this forever. Therefore, he took advantage of this limited window of opportunity: he stamped God’s law-His Holy Word-upon Solomon’s heart before it hardened, before the world made its impression upon him. For a time, Solomon was the only son of David and Bathsheba. Scripture says he was the “only beloved [child] in the sight of [his] mother” (Pr 4:3). He was not their firstborn, however. The child, conceived in David and Bathsheba’s adultery, was taken by God in judgment for their sin (2 Sa.12:14). They would later have three additional sons (1 Chr.3:5), but Solomon’s emphasis here is that his father instructed him while he was very young, before his brothers were born. Tender (07390)(rak) is an adjective meaning gentle, tender, weak, indecisive. "This adjective is used in the sense of the tenderness or softness of few years (Gen. 18:7), of soft words (Job 40:27), and in the sense of weakness (Gen. 29:17). Here, a loving father and mother see Solomon in the vulnerability of young age." (Kitchen) Gilbrant - The concept of tenderness is spoken of little children (Gen. 33:13), as Jacob politely refused Esau's offer to ride with Jacob's entourage because his children were tender. Tender, here, must include the idea that children could not physically or emotionally withstand the hardships and sustained efforts of which adults are capable. Young cattle are called tender of flesh when Abraham selected one to be eaten by his angelic visitors (Gen. 18:7). Usually, the younger animal's flesh, when used for human food, is not as tough to chew as an older one. King David called himself weak, too weak to confront the sons of Zeruiah (Joab and his brothers) who had murdered Abner. Thus, the king could not, or would not, punish them and called upon the Lord to do so (2 Sam. 3:39). Leah's eyes were considered tender, which means they were dull colored, probably light blue or gray, not dark colored, the preferable color for standards of beauty in the Near East at the time (Gen. 29:17). Certain men and women were called delicate when their personalities and situations in life left them pampered, without the necessity of physical labor or hard work (Deut. 28:54, 56). The proverbial "soft answer" that turns away wrath is a use of rakh (Prov. 15:1). Words that are pleasant, spoken with tender feeling and tact, diffuse the heat of anger in conflicting social interaction. Such words were not spoken to humans by the giant animal, the Leviathan, a fierce and invincible foe (Job 41:3). A final use for rakh is "soft of heart," which means "fearful" or "fainthearted." Conspirators fought against Rehoboam, when he was young and tenderhearted (2 Chr. 13:7). The interesting thing about this passage is that Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king, and that age was considered young (cf. 2 Chr. 12:13). He did not listen to the old men but took counsel with his friends, the young men (2 Chr. 10:6-11). Here, the meaning seems more related to a lack of wisdom, defensiveness, insecurity and fear. (Complete Biblical Library Hebrew-English Dictionary) Rak - 15v - frail(1), gentle(1), inexperienced(2), refined(2), soft(2), tender(3), tender one(1), timid*(1), weak(2). Gen. 18:7; Gen. 29:17; Gen. 33:13; Deut. 28:54; Deut. 28:56; 2 Sam. 3:39; 1 Chr. 22:5; 1 Chr. 29:1; 2 Chr. 13:7; Job 41:3; Prov. 4:3; Prov. 15:1; Prov. 25:15; Isa. 47:1; Ezek. 17:22 Charles Bridges - Solomon here claims our attention as a teacher of youth, on account of his own godly education by such a father. He was a tender child (1 Chron. 22:5, 29:1)—well-beloved, as an only son (Not really the only son. 2 Sam. 5:14, 1 Chron. 3:5. Thus Isaac was called the only son, (i.e. most beloved,) when Ishmael was another son: Gen. 22:2, 12, 16, with Ge 17:19). The more dearly he was loved, the more carefully was he taught. Thus we are brought into the family of “the man after God’s heart,” to hear him “commanding his child” in the fear and service of the Lord! (Comp. also 1 Kings 2:2–4, 1 Chron. 22:6–16; 28:9, 10, 20. Comp. Gen. 18:19, Deut. 6:8.) A special mercy is it to us, if we can tell of an Abraham or a David—of a Lois or an Eunice (2 Tim. 1:5, 3:14, 15), having taught and bound us to the ways of God! Parents! remember—a child untaught will be a living shame. (Pr 29:15.) Training discipline, not foolish indulgence, is the truest evidence of affection to our tender and beloved. (1 Kings 1:6. Comp. Pr 13:24) Proverbs 4:4 Then he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live; BGT Proverbs 4:4 οἳ ἔλεγον καὶ ἐδίδασκόν με ἐρειδέτω ὁ ἡμέτερος λόγος εἰς σὴν καρδίαν NET Proverbs 4:4 he taught me, and he said to me: "Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands so that you will live. NLT Proverbs 4:4 My father taught me, "Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live. ESV Proverbs 4:4 he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. NIV Proverbs 4:4 he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. KJV Proverbs 4:4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. LXE Proverbs 4:4 who spoke and instructed me, saying, Let our speech be fixed in thine heart, keep our commandments, forget them not: ASV Proverbs 4:4 And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live; CSB Proverbs 4:4 he taught me and said: "Your heart must hold on to my words. Keep my commands and live. NKJ Proverbs 4:4 He also taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live. NRS Proverbs 4:4 he taught me, and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. YLT Proverbs 4:4 And he directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live. He: Pr 22:6 Ge 18:19 1Ch 22:11-16 28:9 Eph 6:4 2Ti 1:5 3:15 Let: Pr 3:1 De 4:9 6:6 Ps 119:11 keep: Pr 7:2 Lev 18:3-5 Isa 55:3 Joh 12:50 Heb 5:9 TAKING GOD'S WORD TO HEART Pr 4:4b through Pr 4:9 quote David’s instruction to his son. So Solomon quotes David to pass the instruction on to his sons. (cf pattern of 2 Ti 2:2+) Kitchen - Solomon was stressing that he was once in the very position his sons now found themselves in: that of a learner. David and Solomon are both illustrating the fulfillment of the covenant obligation of parents to pass on the truth to the next generation. Deuteronomy 6:6–9 told of the transmission of truth across three generations (Moses, parents, children) just as we have pictured here. Teaching travels along lines of relationship and affection, making the home life the primary and most ideal place for instruction. The father is to take the initiative in this instruction, though certainly the mother is highly involved grace (cf 2 Tim. 1:5; 3:14–15),. Then he taught me and said to me - Solomon is referring to his father David (he taught me). POSB - Despite the passing of time, Solomon had not forgotten what his father taught him (Pr 4:4-9). He could still hear David’s voice echoing in his ears. The words his father had spoken were permanently inscribed on his tender heart. John

Provérbios 4

McGee - David probably gave him a great deal of advice. When Solomon was made king, David said to him, “Play the man!” I think he said that because he felt that Solomon was not manly. He said, “Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.” David had learned by experience that you had better obey the Lord. Probably David was not as kind in teaching his son as he could have been. I have never felt that David was a success as a father. Unfortunately, that has been true of a great many famous men. The life of David was something that Solomon could emulate. Perhaps you are saying, Yes, but look what David did. Well, David’s great sins were committed before Solomon was born, and David had turned from that type of life altogether. Now Solomon is giving advice to a young man, and he is really laying it on the line. Charles Bridges - But let us examine this beautiful specimen of parental instruction. (Where David’s instruction begins, is obvious. Where it ends is not so clear, whether it be Pr 4:6, 10, 12, 13; or as F. Taylor asserts, at the close of the ninth chapter But as Geier observes—“Let the reader form his own judgment—provided that we pay due obedience to the instruction; it matters little, whether we have it in the words of David or Solomon.”) Observe the anxiety for his son’s heart-religion. Let thine heart retain my words. Often (and this is a comfort to a weak memory) words may be lost to the memory, yet retained in the heart with a permanent sanctifying impression. This heart-keeping is the path of life, without which we “have only a name that we live, and are dead.” Pr 4:13; 6:23; 8:34, 35, Isa. 55:3, Zech. 3:7, contrasted with Rev. 3:1, 2.) Commandments (04687)(mitsvah rfom tsavah = to lay charge upon, command, order) is that which is commanded, even human (esp a king, e.g. 2 Chr 9:14) or divine (most often) . In short it is not a suggestion. In the Pentateuch, mitsvah speaks only of God's commands to men, never of men's commands. Note that commandment is coupled with "keep" some 69 times in the NAS, clearly indicating that a major emphasis of this mitsvah is human obedience to God. Mitsvah in Proverbs - Prov. 2:1; Prov. 3:1; Prov. 4:4; Prov. 6:20; Prov. 6:23; Prov. 7:1; Prov. 7:2; Prov. 10:8; Prov. 13:13; Prov. 19:16; Proverbs 4 Today in the Word April 4, 2013 Raising a child is a costly endeavor. To raise a child to age seventeen, a typical, middle-income American family spends an estimated $234,900, or about $14,000 per year. About 16 percent of this total is spent on food, 18 percent on childcare and education, and 30 percent on housing. This total represents, adjusted for inflation, a 23-percent increase since 1960. More important than any financial challenge, though, is the task of instilling children with godly wisdom (Pr 4:7). Proverbs 4 focuses on several themes to help us do so. One is to teach attentiveness. You’ve probably already noticed the frequent exhortations to “listen” and “pay attention” (Pr 4:1, 20). Attentiveness involves more than hearing the words—it requires one to “lay hold” of wisdom, store it up and not to swerve from her commands (Pr 4:4–5, 23). It’s a commitment that involves one’s whole being (Pr 4: 6, 21). Another focus for training wise children is to teach them that wisdom and righteousness are two sides of the same coin. One of the most important differences between godly wisdom and human wisdom is that God’s wisdom never takes us down the path of the wicked (Pr 4:14–15). Wisdom is righteousness and folly is sinfulness, by definition, in the same way that light and dark are opposites by nature (Pr 4:18–19). One more emphasis in godly childrearing is to teach wise decision-making. The spiritual life often confronts us with choices between two paths. One is the path of wisdom and righteousness and obedience; the other is the path of foolishness and evil and disobedience. One is the path of life; the other is the path of death (Pr 4:4, 13, 22–23). Wisdom reveals which are the crooked ways and which are the “straight paths” (Pr 4:11–12, 25–27). Apply the Word - Building a spiritual heritage with our children is one of the most important callings we have as parents and even grandparents (Pr 4:3–9). Teaching, discussing, and modeling a life of faith for our children is an example of our own obedience to God’s Word. When the time comes for them to leave the nest, godly wisdom is the garland of grace they need! Proverbs 4:1-13 — A Dad Looks Back Where did two decades go? How could they have sneaked by so fast? How could my little girl with the ringlet hair and cherubic smile already be 20 years old? Wasn’t it just a short time ago that she learned to write her name? Now she’s writing term papers and e-mail. Wasn’t it just yesterday that she sat on her tricycle and asked Jesus to be her Savior? Now she’s working with foster kids to tell them of Christ. Gone are the preschool years, the elementary years, and now the teenage years. With the loss comes the recollection of so many great times—so many opportunities to reveal God’s goodness, His guidelines, His love, and His salvation to Lisa. As I think back on the opportunities I had during her formative years, I’ve concluded that the most vital aspect of parenting is relationship. Only when we maintain close fellowship with our children can we instruct them properly. When parents and their children share a relationship of mutual respect, new moments of teaching build themselves into a lifetime of love and strong values. God gives us children for a time To train them in His way, To love them and to teach them how To follow and obey. —Sper Children may not inherit their parents' talents, but they will absorb their values. Proverbs 4:5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. BGT Proverbs 4:5 φύλασσε ἐντολάς μὴ ἐπιλάθῃ μηδὲ παρίδῃς ῥῆσιν ἐμοῦ στόματος NET Proverbs 4:5 Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding; do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak. NLT Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don't forget my words or turn away from them. ESV Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. NIV Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. KJV Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. LXE Proverbs 4:5 and do not neglect the speech of my mouth. ASV Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth; CSB Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding; don't forget or turn away from the words of my mouth. NKJ Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. NRS Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. YLT Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth. Get wisdom: Pr 1:22,23 2:2-4 3:13-18 8:5 17:16 18:1 19:8 23:23 Jas 1:5 neither: 2Ch 34:2 Job 23:11 Ps 44:18 119:51,157 ACQUIRE WISDOM AT ANY COST! Proverbs 16:16 How much better it is to get (same verb "acquire") wisdom than gold! And to get (same verb "acquire") understanding is to be chosen above silver. Proverbs 19:8 He who gets (same verb "acquire")wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good. Proverbs 23:23 Buy (same verb "acquire") truth, and do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and understanding. Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! - NLT - Get wisdom; develop good judgment." The same verb acquire is used twice here and twice in Pr 4:7. Acquire (qanah) is used most often in the OT meaning to literally buy or purchase something and thus speaks of a commercial transaction. Here the verb qanah speaks of a spiritual transaction, a spiritual acquisition. If we seek the riches of wisdom, we need to dig into the Word of Truth and Life. We are not to go to men for wisdom but to God (cf earthly versus heavenly wisdom - James 3:15-18+). Here the repeated imperatives underscore the great importance of getting wisdom and understanding. It is interesting to consider that these commands from David to Solomon had motivated him to ask God for wisdom in 1 Kings 3:5-14. We can get INFORMATION "on LINE" (from Google) but WISDOM is from "on HIGH" (from God)! Related Resources: Click for much more discussion on Biblical wisdom More on Biblical Wisdom - includes multiple devotionals related to wisdom Kitchen on acquire wisdom - There is no charge too high to pay for these priceless treasures (Matt. 13:45–46). Forget all else, but be certain to gain wisdom! Guzik makes an interesting point - Before David gave him the actual words of wisdom, he first encouraged the pursuit of wisdom in Solomon. We might say that this is even more important than any particular piece of wisdom, or it is one of the early lessons of wisdom. Value wisdom, pursue wisdom, sacrifice for wisdom, Kidner on acquire wisdom - A blunt way of saying: ‘What it takes is not brains or opportunity, but decision. Do you want it? Come and get it.’ ” Lawson - How earnestly are we called to seek after wisdom, till we find it! It would be a happy token of getting it, were we so deeply convinced of its value, as to make the attainment of it our grand concern; for blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, they shall be filled. If we cry for wisdom, and lift up our voice for understanding, our cries shall not remain unanswered. The success of Solomon’s petition is recorded as an encouragement to our prayers and our hopes*.

Provérbios 4

McGee - Wisdom is depicted as a lady who keeps a school and sends out her catalog. Remember that there is another woman, the stranger woman, who is also bidding for the interest of the young man. Wisdom is urging him to come to her school so that he might be wise. Wisdom (02451)(chokmah from the verb chakam - to be wise) is the ability to judge correctly and to follow the best course of action, based on knowledge and understanding. Wisdom is the ability to see something from God’s viewpoint. Wisdom is “God’s character in the many practical affairs of life.” Chokmah is the knowledge and the ability to make the right choices at the opportune time. The consistency of making the right choice is an indication of one's spiritual maturity. The prerequisite for this "wisdom" is the fear of the Lord (Pr 1:7+). "Wisdom" is personified as crying out for disciples who will do everything to pursue her (Pr 1:20). The person who seeks chokmah diligently will receive understanding: (Pr 2:6) and will benefit in life by walking with God (Pr 2:20, cf Gal 5:16). Wisdom - obtain it and retain it! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth - The positive instruction acquire is not balanced by the negative which is saying in essence do not lose what you acquire and do not turn from following wisdom and understanding. The implication is that it is possible to lose wisdom and understanding and sadly Solomon is a living example of this very danger (see 1 Kings 11:1-13)! To turn away means to abandon or give up. The words of my mouth refer to "my instructions." Kitchen - The word warns against more than an absent-minded misfiling of information. It calls us to take personal action to recall what is important. Often, it is a change in life-circumstances that creates the atmosphere in which one may forget previous experiences and instruction. But, just as often, the forgetfulness comes from personal neglect. POSB - Wisdom must be exercised; it must be intentionally sustained. Many things in life are lost, not because they are intentionally let go, but because they are not purposely kept. Wisdom is one of those things. If a person does not deliberately practice and apply wisdom, it will silently slip away. Beloved, these comments on Solomon's slide remind me of Paul's clear warning... Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed (blepo in the present imperative - see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) that he does not fall. (1 Cor 10:12). THOUGHT - Do not miss the present imperative! This taking heed is not for a moment or even a season of our life, but for our entire life! And as noted this means we need to continually depend on the enabling power of the Spirit to keep watching! He enables. We take heed! It is not "Let go, let God," but more like "Let God and let's go!" See the "Paradoxical Principle of 100% Dependent and 100% Responsible" (100/100) Lawson - It is not enough to get wisdom; we must also use it, and walk in its ways. They are all pleasantness and peace, but pain and misery will meet us, if we turn either to the right hand or to the left. Charles Bridges - Observe again the earnestness of the exhortation. Many a parent, like Augustine’s father (Of whom he records—‘This Father of mine never troubled himself with any thought of—How I might improve myself towards thee, so that I proved eloquent, though I were withal left undrest by thy tillage.’—Confess, ii. 3.), insists—‘Get wealth—worldly honor or wisdom.’ This godly parent inculcates “line upon line”—Get heavenly wisdom—get it with all thy getting—at any cost and pains (.Pr 23:23. Comp. 1 Kings 10:1, Matt. 12:42.), and when thou hast got it, forget it not—decline not from it—forsake it not; (See the great importance of this continuance. John 7:30, 31, Col. 1:22, 23, Heb. 3:6, 14, contrasted with Matt. 13:20, 21.) and—as the cleaving principle of perseverance—love (Thus Jerome wrote to a friend—‘Beg now for me, who am gray-headed of the Lord, that I may have wisdom for my companion, of which it is written—Love her, and she shall keep thee—embrace—exalt—her. Such a keeping is she for thy soul! (Pr 2:10–18) Such a treasure for thy happiness! Such a promoting honor even in this life! Such an ornament of grace in the Church! Such a crown of glory in heaven! Is not then wisdom the principal thing, not only important, but all-important? Shall it not then have our first choice (Matt. 6:33.)—infinitely above this world’s glitter? (1 Kings 3:5–12, Phil. 3:7, 8.) It can have no place, if it has not the first place. Earthly wisdom may be “a goodly pearl:” But this “wisdom from above” is “the pearl of great price;” worth getting indeed; but only to be got, by “selling all that we have to buy it.” (Matt. 13:45, 46) The World Wide Web I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. --Ecclesiastes 2:13 Brewster Kahle has a vision for the Internet. He dreams of universal access to all human knowledge. As Digital Librarian and Director and co-founder of Internet Archive, Kahle believes we have only begun to tap the vast potential of the Internet to change and improve our world. "My interest," he says, "is to build the great library… It is now technically possible to live up to the dream of the Library of Alexandria." He's referring to a huge vault of writings in ancient Egypt that was said to house all the world's knowledge. But knowledge is not the same as wisdom. King Solomon was a man of vast knowledge (1Ki 4:29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34). In his better moments, he used his God-given capacity to collect information and insight from every corner of life. In unguarded moments, however, he showed that all the knowledge in the world does not keep a person from missing the purpose of life (Ec 1:16, 17, 18). In spite of his knowledge, Solomon married many women, and when he was old he built altars to their gods (1Ki 11:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11). His foolishness eventually led to his downfall. True wisdom is in living Near Jesus every day; True wisdom is in walking Where He shall lead the way. --Anon. Wisdom gives wings to knowledge Proverbs 4:5-13 — The World Wide Web Brewster Kahle has a vision for the Internet. He dreams of universal access to all human knowledge. As Digital Librarian and Director and co-founder of Internet Archive, Kahle believes we have only begun to tap the vast potential of the Internet to change and improve our world. “My interest,” he says, “is to build the great library… It is now technically possible to live up to the dream of the Library of Alexandria.” He’s referring to a huge vault of writings in ancient Egypt that was said to house all the world’s knowledge. But knowledge is not the same as wisdom. King Solomon was a man of vast knowledge (1 Kings 4:29-34). In his better moments, he used his God-given capacity to collect information and insight from every corner of life. In unguarded moments, however, he showed that all the knowledge in the world does not keep a person from missing the purpose of life (Eccl. 1:16-18). In spite of his knowledge, Solomon married many women, and when he was old he built altars to their gods (1 Kings 11:1-11). His foolishness eventually led to his downfall. True wisdom is in living Near Jesus every day; True wisdom is in walking Where He shall lead the way. —Anon. Wisdom gives wings to knowledge. Cutting A Trail By David C. Egner The Native Americans of Michigan were the state’s first highway route engineers. With few exceptions, Michigan’s major highways follow the trails they cut through the wilderness hundreds of years before the white man came. A trail was 12-18 inches wide, and for safety the people followed single file. Then pack horses followed these trails, widening them. Later came wagons, and the trails became dirt roads and then highways. In a similar way, Solomon followed the trail of his father and in turn paved the way for his sons and grandsons. He did this by encouraging his sons to heed his instructions just as he had followed the sound teaching of his father (Prov. 4:4-5). So this father, giving his sons good practical and spiritual counsel, was passing on what he had learned from the boys’ grandfather, David, who was called a “man after [God’s] own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22). The younger generation of believers often learns best about God from the family. Lord, as I walk my path of life, Help my feet step straight and true; That those who follow after me, Will be tracking straight with You. —Egner When we follow God, we blaze a trail for those who would follow. Proverbs 4:6 "Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. BGT Proverbs 4:6 μηδὲ ἐγκαταλίπῃς αὐτήν καὶ ἀνθέξεταί σου ἐράσθητι αὐτῆς καὶ τηρήσει σε NET Proverbs 4:6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will guard you. NLT Proverbs 4:6 Don't turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you. ESV Proverbs 4:6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. NIV Proverbs 4:6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. KJV Proverbs 4:6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. LXE Proverbs 4:6 And forsake it not, and it shall cleave to thee: love it, and it shall keep thee. ASV Proverbs 4:6 Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee. CSB Proverbs 4:6 Don't abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you. NKJ Proverbs 4:6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. NRS Proverbs 4:6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. YLT Proverbs 4:6 Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee. love: Pr 4:21,22 2:10-12 Eph 3:17 2Th 2:10 BENEFITS OF WISDOM A GUARDIAN AND WATCHMAN See Bridges comments above. Wisdom is personified as a woman as in Pr 4:8, 9. Ross adds "“The teacher uses feminine verbs to promise protection and safety. Here we find wisdom personified as a woman, at first reading like a bride that is to be loved and embraced (v. 8), but also having the qualities of an influential patron who can protect.” Do not forsake (see 'azab) her, and she will guard (see shamar; Lxx - tereo) you - NLT = "Don't turn your back on wisdom." First the negative warning with a motivation. If we forsake wisdom, we jettison the fact that wisdom guards us, protects us, looks after us. The idea of guard is the exercising of great care over something. Love her, and she will watch (see natsar) over you - Now the positive command motivated by a similar benefit. Wisdom will keep safe from danger, physical and spiritual danger. Kitchen on love her - To ‘love’ wisdom is underscored especially in the eighth chapter. Those who love wisdom are loved by her (Prov. 8:17). To love wisdom is to succeed (Prov. 8:21). To hate wisdom is, on the other hand, to love death (Prov. 8:36). The son who loves wisdom gladdens the heart of his father (Prov. 29:3). Lawson - That we may not forsake wisdom, we must embrace and love her. A miser will never forget where his treasure lies, and he will lose his life sooner than be robbed of his precious store. The love of wisdom will in like manner induce us to lay it up in our hearts, and to keep fast hold of it in defiance of every danger. When persons receive not the truth in the love of it, they provoke God to leave them to the influence of strong and soul-ruining delusions. When we receive it into our hearts, it makes us strong and victorious over the wicked one†. McGee - Notice that he says that wisdom will “preserve” and “keep” the young man. The great difference in contemporary educators is pinpointed in this verse. Do they love wisdom? In other words, do they love the Word of God? It was Pascal who said that human knowledge must be understood to be loved. But divine knowledge must be loved to be understood. So if you are going to understand the Word of God, you must bring to it love and a mind that is willing to be taught. Then the spirit of God can open up the great truths to you. How important it is to see this. He says, “love her, and she shall keep thee.” Proverbs 4:7 "The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. NET Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is supreme– so acquire wisdom, and whatever you acquire, acquire understanding! NLT Proverbs 4:7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. ESV Proverbs 4:7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. NIV Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. KJV Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. ASV Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding. CSB Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is supreme-- so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding. NKJ Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. NRS Proverbs 4:7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever else you get, get insight. YLT Proverbs 4:7 The first thing is wisdom -- get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding. Wisdom is: Ec 7:12 9:16-18 Mt 13:44-46 Lu 10:42 Php 3:8 with: Pr 16:16 21:6 Ps 49:16-20 Ec 2:4-9 4:8 Mk 8:36,37 Lu 12:20 get understanding: Ps 119:104 WISDOM IS THE CHIEF THING The beginning (same word in Pr 1:7) of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding - Wisdom is to be our passionate pursuit. Beginning signifies first in place, time, order, or rank. Again he emphasizes acquisition of wisdom -- no price is too high for wisdom—give everything for it. And this repetition of acquire indicates that wisdom is not a once-and-for-all decision but is a process. Wisdom is not obtained in a moment but progressively over one's life. The key is to stay in the Word of Wisdom and ask the Spirit of Wisdom to teach us continually. Lawson - David had got understanding by meditating on God’s testimonies, and he found it the principal thing. His crown and palace were not comparable to it in his eyes. Setting so high a value upon it himself, it was his great desire that his beloved son should get it also. And those parents who are possessed of David’s spirit, would rather see their children wise unto salvation, than rich and great in the world. Evil parents are not so bad as to refuse bread and fishes to their children. Good parents use every means to make them sharers of that wisdom, which they have found to be their own happiness. Whatever we get, let us get wisdom. I remember to have read of two religious women in the reign of Queen Mary of England, who parted with a considerable portion of their estate, for a few leaves of the Bible. They who look upon the bargain as a foolish one, have little knowledge of the worth of the scriptures. If a man has acquired thousands of gold and silver, and is without wisdom, he has gained thousands of shining nothings. If he has acquired wisdom, and nothing besides, he has gained the one thing needful*. Kitchen - The attainment of wisdom is, in the final analysis, not a matter of I.Q. or G.P.A., but of desire and will. Richard Baxter was right: ‘You shall find this to be God’s usual course: not to give his children the taste of his delights till they begin to sweat in seeking after them.’15 Jensen - The key statement of the stanza is in verse 7a, in which Solomon hails wisdom as the primary thing. So, exclaims Solomon, get wisdom! “Though it cost all you have, get understanding” (4:7b, NIV). Four lines earlier he made the same appeal: “Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!” (4:5a). Surrounding the key statement, we find four commands about Wisdom personified: Do not forsake her [4:6]; Love her [4:6]; Prize her [4:8]; Embrace her [4:8]. The rewards could not be greater. She will exalt you [4:8] She will honor you [4:8]; She will place on your head a garland of grace [4:9]; She will present you with a crown of beauty [4:9; cf., 16:31]. McGee - Notice the way he speaks of wisdom. It is not just knowledge; it is not simply having a computer mind. It is wisdom and intelligence to use knowledge properly and to have a love for it. That is something that the souls of men need today. The reason education is not satisfying is because of the way it is dished out. The most impressive thing here is that we are to get wisdom. How important it is. During World War II, I served as an orthopedic technician in a hospital in England. One day we were cleaning up after putting casts on fractured limbs when I noticed some co-workers goofing off instead of helping. I didn’t hesitate to show my displeasure. Such incidents are why I usually find myself saying a few words in defense of Martha whenever I preach on Luke 10:38, 39, 40, 41, 42. You’ll recall that she was “distracted with much serving” (Lk 10:40), while her sister Mary did nothing but listen to Jesus. It’s easy for me to see Martha’s point of view. In Proverbs, more than a dozen verses rebuke the slothful. And when some first-century Christians quit working and started to freeload off others, Paul laid down the rule: “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (2Th 3:10). Our approach to work must be balanced. Proverbs 4:7 says, “Wisdom is the principal thing.” Martha could have said, “Mary, dinner can wait. I’ll join you in listening to Jesus before getting started in the kitchen.” Work is vital. But we should not be so obsessed with it that it crowds out worship and spiritual instruction. For Further Study For more on this topic, read the online booklet Mary & Martha: Balancing Life’s Priorities Don’t be so busy doing good that you neglect to do what’s right. Proverbs 4:7a A series of cartoons in a New York newspaper depicted a young woman, garbed in cap and gown, holding a diploma with much pride. With her head held high she is looking down her nose at "Mr. World," while that cold, cruel cynic is saying, "Well, who do we have here?" Next, with shoulders thrown back, the young lady replies, "Certainly you know who I am. I'm Cecelia Shakespeare Doaks, a graduate of Prestige College. I have my A.B." "My dear child," Mr. World says in reply, "come with me, and I'll teach you the rest of the alphabet!" Now, we certainly would not discourage the quest for learning, nor the desire to pursue an education to meet the demands and opportunities of life — we would encourage it! But it's important to remember that there is more involved in a well-rounded education than the completion of some college courses. Four years of classroom instruction, even under the most competent teachers, doesn't make one all-wise. The "school of hard knocks" often makes a far greater impact than the "university of hard facts." Even with the best education and down-to-earth, practical experience, however, a man or woman really "knows" nothing apart from God. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov. 9:10). Knowledge is the acquisition of facts. Wisdom is the ability to use this knowledge rightly. A person may acquire much knowledge, but without wisdom his acquired storehouse of facts will do him little good; in fact, it may even be spiritually harmful to him. Get an education? Yes, but also seek for that wisdom which is from above. James tells us, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God … and it shall be given him" (James 1:5-note). A man may store his mind with facts, Till knowledge from it overflows, But lacking wisdom from Above, He's still a "fool" till Christ he knows. —Bosch True wisdom consists principally of two parts: the knowledge of God, and the knowledge of Proverbs 4:8 "Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her. BGT Proverbs 4:8 περιχαράκωσον αὐτήν καὶ ὑψώσει σε τίμησον αὐτήν ἵνα σε περιλάβῃ NET Proverbs 4:8 Esteem her highly and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. NLT Proverbs 4:8 If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will honor you. ESV Proverbs 4:8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. NIV Proverbs 4:8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. KJV Proverbs 4:8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. LXE Proverbs 4:8 Secure it, and it shall exalt thee: honour it, that it may embrace thee; ASV Proverbs 4:8 Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her. CSB Proverbs 4:8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you. NKJ Proverbs 4:8 Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her. NRS Proverbs 4:8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. YLT Proverbs 4:8 Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her. Pr 3:35 22:4 1Sa 2:30 1Ki 3:5-13 Da 12:3 Prize her, and she will exalt you; Prize (salal) means build up, to lift up; to cast up, to exalt, to hold in a position of a high or excessively high reputation or worth. In short the idea is to esteem wisdom highly. The Septuagint translates salal with pericharakoo (in aorist imperative ) which means to surround with a stockade, and figuratively to secure. It is used one other time in the Bible in Jer 52:4 to describe when Nebuchadnezzar "built a siege wall all around" Jerusalem. The "promise" (as much as proverb can be a promise) is that wisdom will exalt (Rum) you, lift you high. Rum is used 8x in Proverbs, some uses in a negative sense and some like this verse in a positive sense (Prov. 3:35; Prov. 4:8; Prov. 6:17; Prov. 11:11; Prov. 14:29; Prov. 14:34; Prov. 24:7; Prov. 30:13). The principle of this passage is in a sense illustrated in 1 Sa 2:30 where God honors those who honor HIm. One paraphrase (French Common Language Version) has "Clasp wisdom like a beloved woman. If you embrace her, she will make you noble and great." Kitchen comments that "The first line contends that, when you lift high wisdom, it pulls you up with it. When you attempt to lift yourself high, you will be brought low (Prov. 16:18). If, however, you concentrate not on exalting yourself, but placing wisdom high and to the forefront of all you do, then you also shall be lifted up and honored (James 4:10; 1 Pet. 5:6)." She will honor you if you embrace her - Wisdom will honor the possessor. Honor is kabad (Lxx = timao = ascribe worth to someone) and kabad is used in Pr 3:9, 4:8, 8:24, 12:9, 13:18, 14:31, 27:18). The idea of kabad is weightiness so one can picture honor as "you are weighty and heavy in that you are loaded with praise and good report. Proverbs often sounds the note that outward reputation comes through an inward embrace of wisdom (Prov. 21:21; 22:4; 26:1). If you hold yourself close to wisdom, you will take on the weight of her honor as she is seen in you." (Kitchen) Embrace (habaq; Lxx = perilambano = put one's arms around!) is used of giving a physical embrace to show affection and is often accompanied by the verb to kiss, and clearly is figurative in this usage. But if wisdom is personified as a woman, it depicts showing appropriate affection for "her." The only other use of embrace is in a negative sense - "embrace the bosom of a foreigner." (Pr 5:20+). And I would submit that if embrace wisdom, we will be far less likely to embrace the bosom of a foreigner. In that sense wisdom is a guardian or watchman as we saw in Pr 4:6. Lawson - All that truly know wisdom, must embrace and exalt her. The only reason why any treat her with indifference, is that they are entire strangers to her. None knew her better than David and Solomon, and we hear how eloquent in her praises they are. We must prize wisdom as a pearl of inestimable value, and we must testify our regard for her, by growing in grace and in knowledge; by improving every means and opportunity afforded us of increasing this divine treasure; by valuing, for the sake of wisdom, the teachers and lovers of it; by earnest endeavours to make our friends and neighbours sensible of its value; and, in a word, by giving it the throne of our hearts, and the government of every action of our lives. They who honour wisdom, obtain the noblest honours, for by wisdom they are promoted. Their heads are adorned with a diadem of beauty, and a crown of glory is delivered to them. McGee - The interesting thing here is that wisdom is to be loved like a woman is loved. When we get to the New Testament, this is changed—Christ has been made unto us wisdom, and we are to love Him. The real difficulty in our day is not that there are problems in the Bible. The real difficulty is that in man there is not that love and longing for God and for the things of God. When love is present in the heart, this Book will begin to open up, because the spirit of God will become the Teacher. Proverbs 4:9 "She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty." BGT Proverbs 4:9 ἵνα δῷ τῇ σῇ κεφαλῇ στέφανον χαρίτων στεφάνῳ δὲ τρυφῆς ὑπερασπίσῃ σου NET Proverbs 4:9 She will place a fair garland on your head; she will bestow a beautiful crown on you." NLT Proverbs 4:9 She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown." ESV Proverbs 4:9 She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown." NIV Proverbs 4:9 She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor." KJV Proverbs 4:9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. LXE Proverbs 4:9 that it may give unto thy head a crown of graces, and may cover thee with a crown of delight. ASV Proverbs 4:9 She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee. CSB Proverbs 4:9 She will place a garland of grace on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty." NKJ Proverbs 4:9 She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you." NRS Proverbs 4:9 She will place on your head a fair garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown." YLT Proverbs 4:9 She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely. will place: Pr 1:9 3:22 1Ti 2:9,10 1Pe 3:4 a crown:Pr 16:31 Isa 28:5 Heb 2:7-9 1Pe 5:4 Rev 3:21 Most commentators see this verse as the end of the instructions of David to Solomon. She will place on your head a garland of grace - Again wisdom is personified as bestowing favor on the possessor of wisdom, in this case grace. The Hebrew for garland (livyah) is translated with stephanos which was an adornment worn around the head, given as an award in athletic contests and is the word used to describe the crowns believers can gain (See crown in Rev 2:10+) Garlands were often fashioned from flowers, vines or branches and would be placed upon the heads of royalty or dignitaries. They were not only decorative, but they also symbolized honor, respect to the one who wore them.The only other use of garland in the OT is Pr 1:8-9+ "Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; 9 Indeed, they (INSTRUCTION, TEACHING) are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck." It is interesting that the combination of wisdom and grace is found in Luke 2:40+ describing Jesus "The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him." Indeed, those filled with wisdom and grace are much more likely to manifest Christ-like behavior. NET NOTE - The personification of wisdom continues with the bestowal of a wreath for the head (e.g., 1:9). The point is that grace will be given to the individual like a wreath about the head. She will present you with a crown of beauty - Crown (atarah) is again translated with stephanos. "This verse uses wedding imagery: The wife (wisdom) who is embraced by her husband (the disciple) will place the wedding crown on the head of her new bridegroom. Wisdom, like a virtuous wife, will crown the individual with honor and grace." (NET NOTE) Proverbs 4:10 Hear, my son, and accept my sayings And the years of your life will be many. BGT Proverbs 4:10 ἄκουε υἱέ καὶ δέξαι ἐμοὺς λόγους καὶ πληθυνθήσεται ἔτη ζωῆς σου ἵνα σοι γένωνται πολλαὶ ὁδοὶ βίου NET Proverbs 4:10 Listen, my child, and accept my words, so that the years of your life will be many. NLT Proverbs 4:10 My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. ESV Proverbs 4:10 Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. NIV Proverbs 4:10 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. KJV Proverbs 4:10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. LXE Proverbs 4:10 Hear, my son, and receive my words; and the years of thy life shall be increased, that the resources of thy life may be many. ASV Proverbs 4:10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many. CSB Proverbs 4:10 Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years. NKJ Proverbs 4:10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. NRS Proverbs 4:10 Hear, my child, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. YLT Proverbs 4:10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life are multiplied to thee. my: Pr 8:10 19:20 Job 22:22 Jer 9:20 Joh 3:32,33 1Th 2:13 1Ti 1:15 the: Pr 3:2,16 De 5:16 6:2 Solomon returns to the familiar metaphor of life as a path (e.g. Pr. 1:15, 19; 2:7–9, 12–15, 18–19; 3:6, 23). In Proverbs 4:10-19 we see two diverging, diametrically opposed paths on which can choose to walk on this short journey called life. In Pr 4:10-13 we see the path of the godly man or woman and in Pr 4:14-17 the path of the ungodly, wicked person. Hear (command - shama), my son - Solomon again demands his son’s attention, directing him to hear what he is saying (Pr 4:10a; 1:8; 4:1). As discussed the idea is not just hearing sound waves, but processing them and practicing them (aka obey). And accept my sayings - Accept (laqach) (see Pr 1:3+ = "To receive instruction in wise behavior." and Pr 2:1+ = "if you will receive my words") means to take, grasp, take hold of and is translated in the Septuagint with dechomai which means to "put out the welcome mat" (so to speak) for these sayings (cf use in James 1:21+ = "receive"). So the ideas of hear and accept are listen, heed, receive (welcome) and apply as an integral part of one's life. Make them your "good friends," which you enjoy associating with. Accept (laqach) in Proverbs - Prov. 1:3; Prov. 1:19; Prov. 2:1; Prov. 4:10; Prov. 6:25; Prov. 7:20; Prov. 8:10; Prov. 9:7; Prov. 10:8; Prov. 11:30; Prov. 17:23; Prov. 20:16; Prov. 21:11; Prov. 22:25; Prov. 22:27; Prov. 24:11; Prov. 24:32; Prov. 27:13; Prov. 31:16 And the years of your life will be many - While this a proverb and not a promise per se, the truth of this statement is certainly a motivation for hearing and accepting these sayings from Solomon. This reiterates the truth of Pr 3:16+ that "Long life is in her (WISDOM'S) right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. (ESPECIALLY SPIRITUAL RICHES AND HONOR)." The promise of life is frequent in Proverbs - Pr 3:2, 16; Pr 9:11; Pr 10:27; Pr 14:27; Pr 15:24). Life (chayyim) in Proverbs (if you would have a fruitful blessed life you might consider pondering "life" in these passages) - Prov. 2:19; Prov. 3:2; Prov. 3:18; Prov. 3:22; Prov. 4:10; Prov. 4:13; Prov. 4:22; Prov. 4:23; Prov. 5:6; Prov. 6:23; Prov. 8:35; Prov. 9:11; Prov. 10:11; Prov. 10:16; Prov. 10:17; Prov. 11:19; Prov. 11:30; Prov. 12:28; Prov. 13:12; Prov. 13:14; Prov. 14:27; Prov. 14:30; Prov. 15:4; Prov. 15:24; Prov. 15:31; Prov. 16:15; Prov. 16:22; Prov. 18:21; Prov. 19:23; Prov. 21:21; Prov. 22:4; Prov. 27:27; Prov. 31:12 Lawson - Who is the man that desires to live long, that he may see good? Let him hear and receive the sayings of David* and of Solomon. There are few men that do not wish to live long, but there are few too that can trust as much to the counsels of the sovereign arbiter of life and of death, as to the counsels of a good physician; for all men have not faith. Many shorten their days by seeking to the physicians rather than to the Lord. Adam

Provérbios 4

McGee - We have noted before that the warning in this book is against the evil man and the stranger woman. That woman is a prostitute, of course. I think we shall see that this also has a spiritual application. Robert Frost in his poem "Road Not Taken" writes in his last stanza I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. In an even more famous discourse on roads taken and not taken, Jesus admonishes those who have an ear to hear to... Enter (aorist imperative see need for the Holy Spirit enablement to obey) by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. (Mt 7:13, 14+) Which road will you travel? The road prepared and paved by careful observation, proper interpretation and diligent application of the Scripture or the one wrought by a superficial, inaccurate, irreverent approach? It will make "all the difference" in this life and the next for as Paul wrote... Discipline (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) yourself for the purpose of godliness;godliness (eusebeia) (produced by discipline and diligent application of God's Word) is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy (pistos = faithful; cp Paul's 4 "faithful sayings" - 1Ti 1:15, 4:9, 2Ti 2:11+, Titus 3:8+) statement deserving full acceptance, for it is for this (godliness) we labor (kopiao = to the point of exhaustion; present tense = continually) and strive (agonizomai = as when striving in an athletic contest emphasizing concentration, discipline, conviction, effort; present tense = continually)." (1Ti 4:8+, 1Ti 4:9, 10+) Application of God's Word will not always be "pain free", but it will always be profitable. We will not fully comprehend the extent of the "return on our investment" until we enter Paradise and stand before our Lord at His bema (judgment) seat. This is a motivating truth that you can trust and which you should welcome and willingly acknowledge. The old saying regarding application is true that the same Word that afflicts the comfortable, also provides comfort for the afflicted! The growing numbers of sermon-sippers and seminar-sitters who flit from one doctrinal dessert to another like so many busy, buzzing hummingbirds are most assuredly deceiving themselves unless they are also choosing to assimilate (heed) the truth ("How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! " Ps 119:103+) which they have tasted James 1:22-25+ But prove (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey)yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25+ But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and (HERE IS THE CRUCIAL STEP - SO NOT JUST LOOKS BUT...) abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. Proverbs 4:14-15 (cf Pr 13:20) - C R Pearson Interpretation.—The advice is, not so much as to set thy foot on the path of the wicked or habitually vicious man. But if thou hast by any chance been thrown into it, then go not on. Avoid it with detestation, yea, avoid nearness to it, for the border-land of temptation is dangerous. Illustrations.—Lot, Dinah, Solomon himself, and St. Peter, are all instances of the danger of rashly venturing into temptation. Moses escaped from evil associations by casting in his lot with God’s people. Daniel and his three friends avoided fellowship with idolaters, and kept themselves pure. It was the high praise given by the Lord to the Church of Ephesus, “Thou canst not bear them which are evil” (Rev. 2:2). Application.—Avoidance of bad company is the highest wisdom; speedy withdrawal from it the next wisest step. He who is not afraid of temptation is not afraid of sin, and there is no foolhardiness so gross as this. I must remember that my heart is predisposed to evil. Were it not, how difficult, instead of easy, would it be to persuade me to it! In mercy God forbids the tampering with temptation, as He forbade our first parents even to touch the forbidden fruit. For do I not know that the very sight of many kinds of evil is seductive, and that to hear of the pleasures of sin whets the appetite for enjoying them? And is it not also certain that I am prone to fall into some offences more out of custom than out of love for them? It is difficult if not impossible to breathe a pestilential air, and not be infected. Hence my true wisdom surely is to keep out of and carefully avoid the path of the wicked. I may indeed not be able to avoid them altogether. They may cross my path. I may be thrown with them in my necessary business and daily life. I am not to go out of the world. But I shall need in that case the more prayer and watchfulness to be kept from the evil that is in the world. I must avoid all fellowship which hinders fellowship with God, and loosens the fast hold of instruction. And I must not forget that the world has its counterfeit religion, and is most dangerous when apparently least so. May fellowship with Christ, through His holy Sacrament, keep me safe from the fellowship of the wicked! Proverbs 4:14-27a Sand In Your Shoes Imagine the obstacles a person would have to overcome to walk from New York City to San Francisco. A man who had accomplished this feat was asked about his biggest hurdle. He said that the toughest part of his trip wasn't walking up the mountains or crossing hot, dry, barren stretches of desert. "The thing that came the closest to defeating me," he admitted, "was the sand in my shoes." This reminds me of how we can be spiritually defeated by what begins as a little irritant. We let an unkind word, a small setback, or a misunderstanding get us down. Or we allow people around us to influence us in little but wrong ways. Instead of being determined to avoid evil—big or small— (Pr 4:14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27), we compromise. We neglect to go to the Lord for forgiveness and help. Sir Francis Drake, the 16th-century English explorer who had sailed around the world, was crossing the Thames River when a violent storm threatened to capsize his boat. He cried, "Shall I who have endured the storms of oceans be drowned in a ditch?" Lord, grant us strength to overcome Life's greatest trials that we may meet; And grant it also when we face Those little trials that would defeat. —D. De Haan We stumble over pebbles, not mountains Proverbs 4:14-27 Healthy Ingredients By Joe Stowell My wife, Martie, is a careful shopper when it comes to buying healthy and nutritious food. No matter how attractive the packaging looks, she checks the list of ingredients on the back of the box. Lots of difficult-to-pronounce words usually announce the presence of preservatives that work against good nutrition. She always puts those items back on the shelf and continues to look for labels with lists of natural food products that contribute to good health. I’ve often thought that her shopping habits are a lot like what God is looking for in our lives: It’s what’s on the inside that counts, regardless of how attractive the outside might be. It’s no wonder that the wisdom-teller of Proverbs warns us to guard what goes into our hearts, “for out of it spring the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). Wearing the right fashions and keeping ourselves looking young are of little importance if our hearts harbor greed, hatred, grumpiness, self-pity, and other counter-productive contents. Lord, teach me to value my heart more than the externals. Grant me the wisdom to cultivate internal ingredients that will make my heart a wellspring of life to those whom I come in contact with today. The contents in your heart are more important than the outer packaging. Proverbs 4:14-27 Ponder Your Path David McCasland A 47-year-old Austrian man gave away his entire $4.7 million fortune after concluding that his wealth and lavish spending were keeping him from real life and happiness. Karl Rabeder told the Daily Telegraph (London), “I had the feeling I was working as a slave for things I did not wish for or need. It was the biggest shock in my life when I realized how horrible, soulless, and without feeling the ‘five-star’ lifestyle is.” His money now funds charities he set up to help people in Latin America. Proverbs 4 urges us to consider carefully our own road in life. The passage contrasts the free, unhindered path of the just with the dark, confused way of the wicked (v.19). “Let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live” (v.4). “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (v.23). “Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established” (v.26). Each verse encourages us to evaluate where we are in life. If we pursue mere earthly gain, We choose a path that ends in pain; But joy remains within the soul When we pursue a heavenly goal. —D. De Haan You are headed in the right direction when you walk with God. Proverbs 4:14-27 Smart Dad A hard-working single dad named William Jackson Smart was the inspiration for the creation of Father's Day. His wife died in 1898 while giving birth to their sixth child, and the Civil War veteran was left to raise the children alone in rural Washington. In May 1909, Smart's daughter, by then a married woman named Sonora Dodd, heard a sermon enumerating the virtues of motherhood. It was Mother's Day, a new American holiday that had begun the previous year. Sonora decided to honor her dad's dedication to his children by seeking to have a Father's Day designated on the calendar. The day caught on, but it wasn't permanently established as an annual holiday in the US until 1972. What a vital role fathers can play in the home as they train their children to follow God's ways! Proverbs 4 gives these nuggets of wisdom that dads can pass on to their children: "Do not enter the path of the wicked" (Proverbs 4:14). "Keep your heart with all diligence" (Proverbs 4:23). "Put away from you a deceitful mouth" (Proverbs 4:24). And finally, "Remove your foot from evil" (Proverbs 4:27). We're thankful for good fathers, Lord, They're special gifts from You; Help us to show we honor them By what we say and do. —Sper Good fathers not only tell us how to live—they show us Proverbs 4:14-15 Watch Out For Pebbles My kids enjoy rollerblading. My 13-year-old son likes jumps, rails, and anything else he can do tricks on. But my daughters like long excursions on smooth paths. Straight-line blading has its hazards too, my daughter Julie explained to me. She said that when she blades, she stays alert for big obstacles ahead like a large rock or a limb on the path. But she said that most problems are caused by small pebbles she doesn't see while watching for the big objects. Then she made this observation: "It's like that in life. You keep watching for the big problems, but then a little one surprises you and causes trouble." She's right. Most of us are on the lookout for life's big difficulties—the big sins. But we allow what might be considered a less serious problem to trip us up. An angry word, a dirty thought, a hateful feeling toward someone—we see these as small indiscretions. But to a holy God, all our sins are serious. Look at Uzza. He may have thought that touching the ark of God was a small infraction. But it wasn't, and he died instantly (1Chr 13:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). It's "little" sins that trip us up And cause an unexpected fall; That's why we need to stay alert To every sin, both large and small. —Sper Little sins can add up to big trouble. Proverbs 4:15 Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on. BGT Proverbs 4:15 ἐν ᾧ ἂν τόπῳ στρατοπεδεύσωσιν μὴ ἐπέλθῃς ἐκεῖ ἔκκλινον δὲ ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν καὶ παράλλαξον NET Proverbs 4:15 Avoid it, do not go on it; turn away from it, and go on. NLT Proverbs 4:15 Don't even think about it; don't go that way. Turn away and keep moving. ESV Proverbs 4:15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. NIV Proverbs 4:15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. KJV Proverbs 4:15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. LXE Proverbs 4:15 In whatever place they shall pitch their camp, go not thither; but turn from them, and pass away. ASV Proverbs 4:15 Avoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on. CSB Proverbs 4:15 Avoid it; don't travel on it. Turn away from it, and pass it by. NKJ Proverbs 4:15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on. NRS Proverbs 4:15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. YLT Proverbs 4:15 Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on. Pr 5:8 6:5 Ex 23:7 Job 11:14 22:23 Isa 33:15 Eph 5:11 1Th 5:22 COMMANDS REGARDING THE WICKED WAY Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on - If the preceding two commands (v14) did not get your attention, Solomon shoots four more in rapid succession! "The rapid sequence of commands stresses the urgency of the matter." (NET Note)

Provérbios 4

McGee - There are two ways that are set in contrast. One way is the way in which the righteous go. It is described as a “shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” There is another way, the way the lawless go. It is a way of darkness. It reminds us of the broad way that our Lord described, which I believe has been misunderstood. I can remember when I was a boy that we would be taught about the broad way and the narrow way. Now if they had asked me which way I wanted to go, I would have said immediately, “I think you could have a lot more fun on the broad way.” Unfortunately, I think that is the impression most often given. However, that is not accurate at all. The picture is altogether different. The broad way is a wide one today. That is where the mob is. The crowd is having a “vanity fair” down that way all the time. The carnival is going on. (By the way, that word carnival comes from the word carnal, which has to do with the flesh.) Down there is the place where they indulge the flesh, and they call it the way of liberty. We hear today that we are living in a new age in which we can do as we please. That is certainly a broad way—that is, at the entrance. But notice that this broad way gets narrower and narrower and narrower. The way of the lawless is the dark way. “The way of the wicked is as darkness.” There are the bright lights at the entrance, but down a little farther there are no lights. The people don’t even know what they are stumbling over. That is the broad way that the Lord Jesus described. It is just like going in at the big end of a funnel and then finding that it gets narrower and narrower until finally it ends in destruction. In contrast, the narrow way is very narrow at the entrance. The Lord Jesus said, “… I am the way …” (John 14:6, italics mine). It is so narrow that it is limited to one Person: Christ. No one can come to the Father but through Him. You just can’t find a way any narrower than that. Peter said, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:9). The entrance is narrow, but after the entrance the way gets wider and wider, leading to an abundant life here and on into the light of heaven itself. My friend, we need to enter into the narrow end of the funnel, and that end is labeled, The Lord Jesus Christ. That is exactly the picture we get from our verses here in Proverbs. There are two ways. There is the path of the just, and there is the way of the wicked. We will hear more of this in this book. The broad way is described in chapter 16: “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 16:25). Proverbs 4:20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. BGT Proverbs 4:20 υἱέ ἐμῇ ῥήσει πρόσεχε τοῖς δὲ ἐμοῖς λόγοις παράβαλε σὸν οὖς NET Proverbs 4:20 My child, pay attention to my words; listen attentively to my sayings. NLT Proverbs 4:20 My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. ESV Proverbs 4:20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. NIV Proverbs 4:20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. KJV Proverbs 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. LXE Proverbs 4:20 My son, attend to my speech; and apply thine ear to my words: ASV Proverbs 4:20 My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. CSB Proverbs 4:20 My son, pay attention to my words; listen closely to my sayings. NKJ Proverbs 4:20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. NRS Proverbs 4:20 My child, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. YLT Proverbs 4:20 My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear, Pr 5:1 6:20,21 7:1 Ps 78:1 90:12 Isa 55:3 Mt 17:5 EVEN DOGS "INCLINE" THEIR EAR This recalls the orders in the military when recruits line up and the sergeant yells "ATTENTION!" Sound words sounded forth are no guarantee they will be received. I like to think of our heart as like a radio receiver that is FM/AM. Let's say the world is broadcasting on the AM and God's Word (words, sayings) are on the FM band. We won't receive the God's signal if we don't switch to the FM band! And so the words of wisdom can be broadcast but sadly never received. It reminds me of the Jewish audience listening to Stephen's sermon in Acts 7, where Stephen said these Jews had "uncircumcised heart(s) and ears...always resisting the Holy Spirit." (Acts 7:51+) And then when Stephen's words were too convicting "they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse." (Acts 7:57+). Matthew

Provérbios 4

McGee - The psalmist said this about the Word: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Ps. 119:11+). God’s words are the words of life. It has been said of the writings of a great man of the past that if his words were cut, they would bleed. This can truly be said of the words of God. They are living words—if you cut them, they will bleed. “For they are life unto those that find them.” They will bring life and light to you. They bring instruction and direction and joy. All this comes through the Word of God. Related Resources: Memorizing His Word Memory Verses by Topic Proverbs 4:22 For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body. BGT Proverbs 4:22 ζωὴ γάρ ἐστιν τοῖς εὑρίσκουσιν αὐτὰς καὶ πάσῃ σαρκὶ ἴασις NET Proverbs 4:22 for they are life to those who find them and healing to one's entire body. NLT Proverbs 4:22 for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. ESV Proverbs 4:22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. NIV Proverbs 4:22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. KJV Proverbs 4:22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. LXE Proverbs 4:22 For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh. ASV Proverbs 4:22 For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh. CSB Proverbs 4:22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to one's whole body. NKJ Proverbs 4:22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. NRS Proverbs 4:22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. YLT Proverbs 4:22 For life they are to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing. life: Pr 4:4,10 health: Heb. medicine, Pr 3:8 Pr 12:18 Jer 33:6 WORDS OF LIFE Moses in some of his last words instructed Israel - he said to them, “Take to your heart (AKA "MEMORIZE") all the words with which I am warning you today, which you shall command your sons to observe carefully (DISCIPLE THEM), even all the words of this law. 47 “For (TERM OF EXPLANATION - WHY THE WORD IS SO IMPORTANT) it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life. And by this word you will prolong your days in the land, which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.” (Deut 32:46-47). Matthew

Provérbios 4

McGee - The issues of life will proceed from the heart, but it is the mouth and the lips that will do the speaking. Someone has put it like this: “What is in the well of the heart will come up through the bucket of the mouth.” How true it is that sooner or later the mouth will reveal what is in your heart. Our mouths give us away. Mrs. McGee and I were having lunch in a little town in the Northwest and were talking to each other. We noticed that the waitress seemed very much interested and pretty soon she interrupted us. “Aren’t you Dr. McGee?” I answered, “Yes, how did you know me?” She said, “I’ve never seen you before, but I listen to you on the radio.” Later my wife told me, “You had better be very careful what you say. You are recognized by people when you have no idea that you are being recognized.” How true that is, but the care has to begin with the heart. What is in the well of the heart will come up through the bucket of the mouth. Our mouths will give away what is being harbored in our hearts. Lawson - A wry mouth is a great deformity to the countenance; a perverse tongue is a more ugly blemish to the conversation. The tongue is a world of iniquity, and needs a world of care to manage it. We must not only refrain from evil discourse, but put it far from us, avoiding every thought and feeling that might set an evil tongue in motion, and refusing to listen to evil speakers, that we may not be tempted by them to retail their infamous slanders. It is a sad thing to think evil, for that corrupts ourselves; but if we have done foolishly in thinking evil, let us lay our hands upon our mouths, lest we corrupt others also. We must repent bitterly of evil imaginations, but the manifestations of pardoning grace restore complete comfort and calm serenity to the wounded spirit. But when we have given our tongues a license, whereby others also have been drawn into sin, we must remember that, though pardoning mercy may clear our consciences from the terrors of guilt, deep remorse must still be felt for the irreparable injury done to others. Who can tell how far its baneful influence may have spread? Proverbs 4:25 Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. BGT Proverbs 4:25 οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου ὀρθὰ βλεπέτωσαν τὰ δὲ βλέφαρά σου νευέτω δίκαια NET Proverbs 4:25 Let your eyes look directly in front of you and let your gaze look straight before you. NLT Proverbs 4:25 Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. ESV Proverbs 4:25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. NIV Proverbs 4:25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. KJV Proverbs 4:25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. LXE Proverbs 4:25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids assent to just things. ASV Proverbs 4:25 Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee. CSB Proverbs 4:25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. NKJ Proverbs 4:25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. NRS Proverbs 4:25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. YLT Proverbs 4:25 Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee. Pr 23:5,33 Job 31:1 Ps 119:37 Mt 6:22 PUT ON THE BLINDERS! MAKE A COVENANT WITH YOUR EYES Related Passages: Job 31:1+ “I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin? Psalm 119:37+ Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Your ways. Matthew 6:22+ “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. See comments on this verse by Arnot above. Matthew

Provérbios 4

McGee - Oh, how careful a young man needs to be! A man told me the other day that he ruined his whole life by being arrested when he was a young man. He has a record against him, and that record has confronted him again and again down through the years. In this day when the use of drugs and liquor is so prevalent, especially among young folk, how careful he should be. How tragic it is to see multitudes of youngsters who are destroying themselves because they do not “ponder the path” of their feet. Related Passage: 1 Th 5:21-22+ But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. (Note all three commands are present imperative each calling for us to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) Romans 12:9+ Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Matthew

Provérbios 4:23

Vernon McGee writes that… the heart symbolizes the center of one’s innermost being. The Lord Jesus said that it isn’t what goes into a man that defiles him, but what comes out of a man. “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Mt 15:19). Some of the meanest things in the world come out of the human heart. The heart is the seat of the total personality. If you want to know how important the heart is, get your concordance and look up all the references to the heart that are in the Bible (Ed: see below for OT & NT Scriptures you can study!). We are to keep our hearts with all diligence. What we hear is important. What we study is important. What we see is important. We should recognize that out of that heart will come all of the great issues of our lives. Let’s not miss the fact that the Book of Proverbs, written long before Harvey made the discovery of the circulation of blood, makes a statement about the heart that centuries later science demonstrated to be true. In the Book of Proverbs (and this can be said of the entire Bible) you will find no unscientific or inaccurate observation.