Proverbs 4

Proverbs 4:3

3. — and only beloved] According to some readings of the Hebrew Bible, the expression is, “only beloved among the sons of my mother.” Dr. Hammond. 8. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: Whatever value or love thou expressest for this sort of wisdom, shall be abundantly repaid to thee by her. Dr. Hammond. VOL. II. ornament of grace: || a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Proverbs 4:5

5. Her feet go down to death;] She leads those that follow her steps to certain and inevitable destruction, not only here, but in another world. Bp. Patrick.

— her steps take hold on hell.] Rather, “her steps lead on to the tomb.” By the English term “hell,” is commonly understood the place of torment: whereas here is meant the grave, the place where the body is consumed. Dr. Hodgson.

Proverbs 4:6

6. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life.] The Hebrew words admit of being translated in the third person, “She ponders not the path of life;” and this seems a preferable construction. Dr. Durell. “Her paths are always moveable,” “wandering,” “dangerous,” “unstable,” according to different versions. Dr. Hammond. She gives herself up to pleasure without reflection: her ways are inconstant, she has no fixed attachments, has neither knowledge, wisdom, or discernment, and follows no rule but her passion. Calmet.

Proverbs 4:9

9. Lest thou give thine honour unto others, &c.] Lest thou put thy reputation in the power of others, and even thy life; that is, of those who may divulge or revenge thy adultery, Chap. vi. 34.

Proverbs 4:11

11. And thou mourn] “Mourn” is too feeble a word to convey the meaning of the original. It signifies more properly, “and thou roar” with pain. Dr. Hodgson.

Proverbs 4:12

12. When thou goest, &c.] If thy actions and designs have no other rule than this which I give thee, thou shalt be at ease and free from those straits and difficulties with which others meet: if thy business should require haste, this will be the safest, as well as the most inoffensive way to accomplish thy ends. Bp. Patrick.

13. — How have I hated &c.] How stupidly foolish have I been, in not considering all this sooner; how senselessly bent on my own ruin! I am amazed to think

Proverbs 4:17

17. — they eat the bread of wickedness.] They live by robbery and spoil; having no other meat and drink but that which is the fruit of their rapine and violence, and not of their honest labours. Bp. Patrick. 18. — the shining light, that shineth more and more &c.] The whole course of righteous men, the beginning, progress, and consummation, is all imitable and exemplary, fit to attract all others to it, whether in respect to its inward lustre and excellency, or the present satisfaction and peace which attends it. In all these respects it cannot better be represented than by the light of the sun, when it is come above the horizon, continually increasing till it come to perfect noon, the day continually arraying and adorning itself, and putting on new lustre, till the whole face of nature is fully illuminated, no degree of shade or darkness any where remaining. Dr. Hammond.

Proverbs 4:21

21. — keep them in the midst of thine heart.] Preserve them studiously, and lay them up as a most precious L. Before CHRIST about 1000. ¶ Or, she shall compass thee with a crown of glory. Solomon exhorteth to sanctification. The mischiefs of whoredom and riot. Before CHRIST about 1000. medicines. not keeping. frowardness of mouth, and perverseness of lips. ways shall be ordered aright.

Proverbs 4:23

23. Keep thy heart with all diligence;] The heart is here used to denote the seat of the affections, passions, and desires; and by the precept “to keep our hearts,” is meant, that we should diligently preserve our good dispositions, and correct our bad ones; for which two things principally are necessary, a frequent examination of our own heart, and a constant endeavour to wean our affections from this world, and to fix them on another. Dr. Waterland.

— for out of it are the issues of life.] The genuine and natural sense of this is, that all the actions of a man’s life issue and proceed from the heart; which is the fountain, not only of our natural life, but of our moral too; so that, as a man’s heart is, so will his life be: if his heart be kept clear and pure, his life cannot be wicked and vicious; and if his heart be wicked and vicious, his life cannot be kept clean and pure from sin; as our Saviour Himself teaches, Matt. vi. 16 - 20. Bp. Beveridge.

Proverbs 4:24

24. Put away from thee a froward mouth.] Never speak any thing thyself contrary to truth, honesty, and religion, nor listen to, or associate with, those that do so. Bp. Patrick.

Proverbs 4:25

25. Let thine eyes look right on, &c.] Let neither thine eyes, nor thy other senses, be drawn aside to the right hand or to the left, but let them be directed aright, according to the law of thy God. Bp. Hall.

Proverbs 4:27

27. Turn not to the right hand &c.] Let no temptation either of hope or fear, passion or interest, be able to seduce or divert thee from the straight and even path of virtue, but exactly and carefully preserve thyself from every thing that is evil. Dr. Hammond.

Chap. V. ver. 3. For the lips of a strange woman] The wise man here gives a new caution against those impure

desires, which he had before noticed, chap. ii. 16, 17, as great obstructions to religious wisdom; and he describes their miserable effects by several apt resemblances, ver. 4, 5, which shew how by these vices men lose their honour, their time, their health, and estates, and at last lie down in sorrow, and end their days in an unprofitable repentance. Bp. Patrick.

— drop as an honeycomb.] Are full of sweet enticements. Bp. Hall.