Proverbs 4 - Introduction
_SOLOMON, TO PERSUADE OBEDIENCE, SHEWETH WHAT INSTRUCTION HE HAD OF HIS PARENTS, TO STUDY WISDOM, AND TO SHUN THE PATH OF THE WICKED: HE EXHORTETH TO FAITH, AND SANCTIFICATION._... [ Continue Reading ]
_SOLOMON, TO PERSUADE OBEDIENCE, SHEWETH WHAT INSTRUCTION HE HAD OF HIS PARENTS, TO STUDY WISDOM, AND TO SHUN THE PATH OF THE WICKED: HE EXHORTETH TO FAITH, AND SANCTIFICATION._... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR, YE CHILDREN— Solomon here proposes himself as an example of docility; but in such a manner, that he refers all the advantages of his education to the early impressions which he received from his father and his mother under the blessing of Divine wisdom. He makes this appear by all his attachme... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I WAS MY FATHER'S SON, &C.— Literally, _I was a tender and delicate child, and the only son of my mother._ The word, _only son,_ in this place may be taken in the sense in which the LXX have translated it, and which we have followed. Greek and Latin authors often express by this epithet an only... [ Continue Reading ]
WISDOM IS THE PRINCIPAL THING— "As there is no thing comparable to wisdom; so the first step to it is, to know as much, and to prize it accordingly. Begin therefore to be wise, by looking upon the fear of God as above all earthly possessions; and by being willing, if it were necessary, to give all t... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE PATH OF THE JUST IS AS THE SHINING LIGHT— The presence of the just enlightens, instructs, edifies, rejoices: they carry light into every place by their example, and by their instructions. And they grow more and more in knowledge, grace, and consolation, until all be perfected and swallowed u... [ Continue Reading ]
KEEP THY HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE— _Above all keeping keep thy heart._ Schultens. The life and death of the soul proceed from the heart: an upright, clear, enlightened, watchful heart gives life; a heart corrupted, dissipated, without knowledge, without wisdom, brings death: from the heart proceeds... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THINE EYES LOOK RIGHT ON— This advice principally regards the conduct of manners. "Apply yourself to yourself, to your own proper conduct, to the direction of your own ways: carry not your _eyes,_ your attention, to things which are foreign to you, to the persons and the affairs of others: _For... [ Continue Reading ]
TURN NOT, &C.— The LXX and Arabic read, "Do not decline to the right, nor to the left; remove thy foot from the evil way. For God knoweth the ways to the right, but those to the left are perverse ways: for he shall make thy paths straight, and shall conduct thy steps in peace." The meaning of the ve... [ Continue Reading ]