Proverbs 4:10-27 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:17

For they eat the bread of wickedness ,.... Either that is gotten by wicked and unlawful means, or wickedness itself is bread unto them; it is that to their minds as bread is to their bodies; they feed upon it with as much eagerness, appetite, gust, and pleasure; it is a sweet morsel to them; it is meat, drink, sleep, and everything to them; they take the highest satisfaction and the utmost delight in it; and drink the wine of violence : either that which is obtained by rapine and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:18

But the path of the just is as the shining light ,.... The "just" man is one that is made righteous through the righteousness of Christ imputed to him; and who is created anew in Christ, in righteousness and true holiness; and, under the influence of divine grace, lives soberly, righteously, and godly: the "path" he is directed to walk in, and does, is Christ himself, the way, the truth, and the life; through whose blood, righteousness, and sacrifice, he goes to God for grace and mercy,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:19

The way of the wicked is as darkness ,.... They are in the darkness of sin, ignorance, error, and unbelief; their works are works of darkness; the way in which they are leads to eternal darkness, ruin, and misery, and so must be most uncomfortable and dangerous; they know not at what they stumble ; they stumble at the word, which they are ignorant of, and at Christ, whom they have no knowledge of; and through the temptations of Satan and snares of the world, which they are not aware... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:20

My son, attend to my words ,.... Which go before and which follow after, his doctrines, instructions, cautions, and exhortations; incline thine ear unto my sayings ; stoop and bow the ear; listen attentively to what is said, as being of the greatest moment and importance. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:21

Let them not depart from thine eyes ,.... Commit them to writing, frequently read them over; let them be always in sight, as a rule and directory to steer the course of life by. Some understand this of the wicked, as if the sense was, let not them, the wicked, cause them to depart from thine eyes; nor thee to neglect them, by their bad advice, solicitations to sin, and ill examples; See Gill on Proverbs 3:21 ; keep them in the midst of thine heart ; lay them up there, and ponder them;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:22

For they are life unto those that find them ,.... The words or doctrines of Christ, whose type Solomon was, are to be found in the field of the Scriptures, by diligent searching for them; and being found, they are the means of spiritual life, and of maintaining it, and of showing the way, and bringing unto eternal life; see John 6:63 ; and health to all their flesh ; the whole man, soul and body, as they are the means of preserving the body from many diseases, which intemperance,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:23

Keep thy heart with all diligence ,.... The mind from vanity, the understanding from error, the will from perverseness, the conscience clear of guilt, the affections from being inordinate and set on evil objects, the thoughts from being employed on bad subjects; and the whole from falling into the hands of the enemy, or being the possession of Satan: great diligence had need be used in keeping it, since it is naturally so deceitful and treacherous; a strict eye is to be kept upon it; all the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:24

Put away from thee a froward mouth ,.... A mouth speaking froward and perverse things; things contrary to right reason, to the law of God, and Gospel of Christ; blasphemies against God or men; every thing that is untrue, unchaste, unjust, foolish, and filthy; all swearing, lying, and everything that is repugnant to truth and justice. Some understand it of men that are liars, blasphemers, and froward persons, who are to be shunned and avoided, and to be debarred the houses and society of good... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:25

Let thine eyes look right on ,.... To the path of truth and holiness, without turning or looking to the right hand or left, as it is afterwards expressed; to the word of truth, as the rule to walk by; to Christ, the author and finisher of faith, from whom all grace, and the supplies of it, are to be had; and to the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God; and thine eyelids look straight before thee ; to the precepts of the word, to observe them; to the promises of it for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:26

Ponder the path of thy feet ,.... Consider well what path it is, whether right or wrong; or weigh it in the balances of thought, as Aben Ezra; or rather in the balances of the word, and see whether it agrees with that or not. The Septuagint version is, "make straight paths for thy feet"; to which the author of the epistle to the Hebrews seems to have respect, Hebrews 12:13 ; and let all thy walls be established ; so as to walk on steadily, constantly, uniformly, and not be easily moved... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:24

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:26

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