Psalms 34:11
Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
BSB
ASV
Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of Jehovah.
KJV
Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Come, ye children. Though a warrior and a king, the psalmist was not ashamed to teach children. Teachers of youth belong to the true peerage; their work is honourable, and their reward shall be glorious. Perhaps the boys and girls of Gath had made sport of David in his seeming madness, and if so, he here aims by teaching the rising race to undo the mischief which he had done aforetime. Children are the most hopeful persons to teach—wise men who wish to propagate their principles take care to win the ear of the young.
David was a famous musician, a statesman, a soldier; but he does not say to the children, "I will teach you to play on the harp, or to handle the sword or spear, or to draw the bow, or I will teach you the maxims of state policy;" but I will teach you the fear of the Lord, which is better than all arts and sciences, better than all burnt-offerings and sacrifices.
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.
The walk8
Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.
Through
Proverbs 1:7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
leads to
And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
Through
Psalms 32:8I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.
leads to
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His loving devotion
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.