Proverbs
Chapter 4
Tradition
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction and pay attention so that you may gain insight.
For I have given you good principles; do not discard my teaching!
When I was a young boy and my mother looked at me with fondness,
my father taught me and said: Treasure my words in your heart; listen to my directions and you will live.
Gain wisdom and insight, and never forget or dismiss the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake wisdom, for she will safeguard you. Cherish her, and she will be your salvation.
The start of wisdom is working to gain it. At the expense of everything you have, strive to achieve understanding.
Hold her close, for she will lift you up and bring you honor if you embrace her.
She will honor you with grace and place a diadem of splendor on your head.
The Two Paths10Listen, my son, and take my words to heart; doing so will add years to your life.
Because I have taught you the way of wisdom and have guided you along with honest ways,
you will walk with ease and run without falling.
Hold firmly to discipline; never let her go. Guard her carefully, for she is your salvation.
Do not follow the way of the wicked or walk with evildoers.
Avoid them, turn your back on them and pass by.
For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; they cannot rest unless they have caused someone’s downfall.
Wickedness is their bread and violence their wine.
The path of the upright is like the dawn that grows brighter until full daylight.
The way of the wicked is complete darkness, and they do not realize what will cause them to stumble.
The Good Path
My son, pay attention and listen carefully to my words.
Never let them out of your sight, but keep them close to your heart.
For they are life to those who hold onto them and healing for the inner spirit.
Above all, protect your heart, because it is the wellspring of life.
Keep your mouth from lies and let not deceit come from your lips.
Keep your eyes focused on what lies ahead and look straight in front of you.
Test the ground beneath your feet, and all your ways will be secure.
Turn neither to the left nor to the right, and guard your path from evil.
Commentaries
First Collection.
These initial nine chapters serve as an introduction to the entire book, attributed to the final editor of the work.
Tradition.
The family is the ideal setting for transmitting wisdom. Parents teach their children life principles not just through speech, but mainly through example and concise sayings, maxims, and judgments. Given the external and internal threats facing the Israelites at the time of the book, this family education needs to be strengthened so that outside influences do not mislead young people. This explains the focus on the honor gained through discernment, which touches all areas of human life. Honor and identity are closely connected, and together they form the foundation for ongoing discernment.
The Two Paths.
The two paths discussed in this teaching are: 1. The path of wisdom, which lets a person walk without stumbling. Those who follow this path cannot ignore correction, as wisdom is not gained instantly but through a lifetime of learning. 2. The path described as “the path of the wicked” (14), where people live according to evil. The verbs ‘eat’ and “drink” show how the wicked’s life is fueled only by evil and how they quench their thirst with violence. Both paths have contrasting qualities: the righteous, honest, and wise walk in light, with no fear of stumbling because the truth illuminates everything they do; meanwhile, the wicked walk in darkness, blindly moving forward and unsure of where they might stumble.
The Good Path.
The discussion about the good path as something worth pursuing continues. In the wisdom tradition, the path is viewed as a metaphor for the way of life that believers should strive for and aspire to. In the New Testament, Jesus aligns himself with that path: He is the way that leads to the Father. Jesus’ plan provides us with everything we need to connect with the Father and return to his original plan for life.