Proverbs 4:10-17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 4:10

The years of thy life shall be many - Vice and intemperance impair the health and shorten the days of the wicked; while true religion, sobriety, and temperance, prolong them. The principal part of our diseases springs from "indolence, intemperance, and disorderly passions." Religion excites to industry, promotes sober habits, and destroys evil passions, and harmonizes the soul; and thus, by preventing many diseases, necessarily prolongs life. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 4:12

Thy steps shall not be straitened - True wisdom will teach thee to keep out of embarrassments. A man under the influence of true religion ponders his paths, and carefully poises occurring circumstances; and as the fear of God will ever lead him to act an upright and honest part, so his way in business and life is both clear and large. He has no by-ends to serve; he speculates not; he uses neither trick nor cunning to effect any purpose. Such a man can never be embarrassed. His steps are not... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 4:13

Take fast hold - החזק hachazek , seize it strongly, and keep the hold; and do this as for life. Learn all thou canst, retain what thou hast learnt, and keep the reason continually in view - it is for thy life. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 4:14

Enter not into the path of the wicked - Never associate with those whose life is irregular and sinful; never accompany them in any of their acts of transgression. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 4:15

Avoid it - Let it be the serious purpose of thy soul to shun every appearance of evil. Pass not by it - Never, for the sake of worldly gain, or through complaisance to others, approach the way that thou wouldst not wish to be found in when God calls thee into the eternal world. Turn from it - If, through unwatchfulness or unfaithfulness, thou at any time get near or into the way of sin, turn from it with the utmost speed, and humble thyself before thy Maker. And pass away - Speed... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 4:16

Except they have done mischief - The night is their time for spoil and depredation. And they must gain some booty, before they go to rest. This I believe to be the meaning of the passage. I grant, also, that there may be some of so malevolent a disposition that they cannot be easy unless they can injure others, and are put to excessive pain when they perceive any man in prosperity, or receiving a kindness. The address in Virgil, to an illnatured shepherd is well known: - Et cum vidisti... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 4:17

For they eat the bread of wickedness - By privately stealing. And drink the wine of violence - By highway robbery. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:1-13

The tradition of piety The writer, here and in Proverbs 5:7 and Proverbs 7:24 , addresses his audience as children, thinking of himself as a son, who had been the object of fatherly counsels and warnings in his youth. He would hand on the torch of wisdom, the tradition of piety, to the next generation. I. PIETY SHOULD BE A FAMILY TRADITION . ( Proverbs 7:1-3 .) Handed down from father to son and grandson, or from mother to daughter and grandchild, from Lois to Eunice,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:1-13

The solicitude of the wise father: a sermon to parents and children In these verses we have a peep into the royal house at Jerusalem while David was on the throne. And we have such a glimpse as we should expect to gain. We see the devout man extremely solicitous that his son should walk in the ways of Divine and heavenly wisdom. David, like the rest of human parents, and more than most of them, was under— I. A STRONG TEMPTATION TO MAKE A FALSE ESTIMATE . So near to us is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:1-27

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 7:1-27 . 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... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 4:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 4:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 4:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 4:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 4:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 4:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 4:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:1-27

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