Proverbschapter 4
27 verses · BSBProverbs book hub →
Original Language
Proverbs 4— Hebrew word study · with the Hebrew tradition
How to read a word below: the Hebrewword, then how it sounds, then what it means, then its number in Strong’s concordance, which is the key every lexicon and concordance uses (H for Hebrew and Aramaic, G for Greek). Square brackets hold a word the English supplies that the Hebrew does not, angle brackets name a word that does a grammatical job rather than carrying a meaning, and the mark ס or פ is where the Hebrew manuscripts end a paragraph.
What My Father Taught Me: Get Wisdom, Get Understanding1
1Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
Rashi on Proverbs 4:1
Children, hearken to the discipline of the Father The Holy One, blessed be He.
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
2For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
3When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,
4he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
7Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
8Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
Two Paths: the Dawning Light and the Deep Darkness10
10Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
11I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
12When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
Rashi on Proverbs 4:12
When you walk, your step will not be straightened One who does not spread out his legs is likely to fall.
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
13Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
15Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.
16For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
Keep Thy Heart, For Out of It Are the Issues of Life20
20My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
22For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
23Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
24Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
25Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
26Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
27Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.