Proverbs 4:27

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. TURN NOT TO THE RIGHT HAND NOR TO THE LEFT - (.) The image is from the king's highway (; ). God's holy law is our heavenly King's highway. We must not in the lost turn aside from it into the by-ways of superstitious will-worship on the one hand, and unbelieving self-subfficiency on the other (; ; ). The least declension from the truth of God, doctrinal or practical, is sinful and dangerous ...

14-27 The way of evil men may seem pleasant, and the nearest way to compass some end; but it is an evil way, and will end ill; if thou love thy God and thy soul, avoid it. It is not said, Keep at a due distance, but at a great distance; never think you can get far enough from it. The way of the righteous is light; Christ is their Way, and he is the Light. The saints will not be perfect till they reach heaven, but there they shall shine as the sun in his strength. The way of sin is as darkness. The way of the wicked is dark, therefore dangerous; they fall into sin, but know not how to avoid it. They fall into trouble, but never seek to know wherefore God contends with them, nor what will be in the end of it. This is the way we are bid to shun. Attentive hearing the word of God, is a good sign of a work of grace begun in the heart, and a good means of carrying it on. There is in the word...

Verse Proverbs 4:27. _TURN NOT TO THE RIGHT HAND NOR TO THE LEFT_] Avoid all crooked ways. Be an upright, downright, and straight-forward man. Avoid _tricks, wiles_, and _deceptions_ of this kind. To this the _Septuagint_ and _Vulgate_ add the following verse: Αυτος δε ορθας ποιησει τας τροχιας σου, τας δε πορειας σου εν ειρηνη προαξει. Ipse autem rectos faciet cursus tuos; itinera autem tua in pace producet. "For himself will make thy paths straight and thy journeyings will he conduct in prosperity." The _Arabic_ has also a clause to the same effect. But nothing like this is found in the _Hebrew, Chaldee_, or _Syriac_; nor in the _Vulgate_, as printed in the _Complutensian_ Polyglot; nor in that of _Antwerp_ or of _Paris_; but it is in the Greek text of those editions, in the _editio princeps_ of the Vulgate

The ever-recurring image of the straight road on which no one ever loses his way represents here as elsewhere the onward course through life of the man who seeks and finds wisdom....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 4:1 7. _Seventh admonitory discourse. _We here enter upon the second group of admonitory discourses, as is indicated by the opening address, "my children," and which occurs again in Proverbs 5:7 and Proverbs 7:24. This group extends to the end of Proverbs 7:1. Its prevailing tone is that of warning rather than of positive exhortations, which have been the rule hitherto. The general aim of the discourse before us, as of those preceding, is to exalt Wisdom, to exhibit her as a subject worthy of all earnest endeavour and sacrifice, but it is noticeable that the teacher introd

TURN NOT TO THE RIGHT HAND NOR TO THE LEFT,.... Either into the road of immorality and profaneness, or into that of error, superstition, and false worship; but attend to the way of holiness and truth, directed to in the word of God; see Isaiah 30:21; nor be moved out of it by threatenings and menaces, nor by flatteries and promises; neither be cast down with adversity, nor be lifted up with prosperity; but keep on in an even way, attending to that which is just and right; leaving all events with God, as knowing you are in the way of your duty, and in which he would have you walk; REMOVE, BY FOOT FROM EVIL; from walking in evil ways and along with evil men, and from doing evil things; abstain from all appearance of evil, keep at a distance from it; the evil of sin brings on the evil of punishment. There are two verses added in the Septuagint, Arabic, and Vulgate Latin vers

CHAPTER 4 _ 1. Solomon's training (Proverbs 4:1)_ 2. Hear, O my son: Receive my sayings (Proverbs 4:10) 3. My son, attend to my words. (Proverbs 4:20) Proverbs 4:1. This passage shows the early training which Solomon received and he passeth on the instructions. It is said that these verses formed a model for many Puritan homes in England and the Scotland of the covenant. He was the beloved one, his father's true son. Note the different exhortation, about wisdom: Forget it not; forsake her not; love her; exalt her. Then the promises: She shall preserve thee; she shall keep thee; she shall promote thee

At the end of this verse the LXX. add: "For the ways on the right God knoweth, But the ways on the left are crooked. And He will make straight thy paths, And thy goings will He conduct in peace....

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 verse seems to be, "Fly all extremes, and neither attempt to add to, nor diminish from, God's commandments." REFLECTIONS.—Nothing too great can be said in the commendation of divine wisdom. 1. Solomon earnestly exhorts his children, and all like them of a teachable spirit, to attend to the lessons of instruction that he was about to deliver. _Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding;_ fathers are bound to use every method to inculcate _on their children_ the knowledge of divine things, and _they_ are in duty bound to pay all deference and attention to the...

TEXT Proverbs 4:20-27 20. My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21. Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart. 22. For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh. 23. Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life. 24. Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee. 25. Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26. Make level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established. 27. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil. STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 4:20-27 1. Why does the father go over the same thought so often ...