11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
11 I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
11 I'm writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way, I'm drawing a map to Righteous Road.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.
11 I will teach you wisdom's ways and lead you in straight paths.
12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.
12 I don't want you ending up in blind alleys, or wasting time making wrong turns.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble.
12 When you walk, you won't be held back; when you run, you won't stumble.
(Read Proverbs 4:1-13)
We must look upon our teachers as our fathers: though instruction carry in it reproof and correction, bid it welcome. Solomon's parents loved him, therefore taught him. Wise and godly men, in every age of the world, and rank in society, agree that true wisdom consists in obedience, and is united to happiness. Get wisdom, take pains for it. Get the rule over thy corruptions; take more pains to get this than the wealth of this world. An interest in Christ's salvation is necessary. This wisdom is the one thing needful. A soul without true wisdom and grace is a dead soul. How poor, contemptible, and wretched are those, who, with all their wealth and power, die without getting understanding, without Christ, without hope, and without God! Let us give heed to the sayings of Him who has the words of eternal life. Thus our path will be plain before us: by taking, and keeping fast hold of instruction, we shall avoid being straitened or stumbling.
19 The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
19 The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.
19 The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers; the diligent walk down a smooth road.
19 The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway.
19 A lazy person's way is blocked with briers, but the path of the upright is an open highway.
(Read Proverbs 15:19)
Those who have no heart to their work, pretend that they cannot do their work without hardship and danger. And thus many live always in doubt about their state, because always in neglect of some duty.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 4:11
Commentary on Proverbs 4:1-13
(Read Proverbs 4:1-13)
We must look upon our teachers as our fathers: though instruction carry in it reproof and correction, bid it welcome. Solomon's parents loved him, therefore taught him. Wise and godly men, in every age of the world, and rank in society, agree that true wisdom consists in obedience, and is united to happiness. Get wisdom, take pains for it. Get the rule over thy corruptions; take more pains to get this than the wealth of this world. An interest in Christ's salvation is necessary. This wisdom is the one thing needful. A soul without true wisdom and grace is a dead soul. How poor, contemptible, and wretched are those, who, with all their wealth and power, die without getting understanding, without Christ, without hope, and without God! Let us give heed to the sayings of Him who has the words of eternal life. Thus our path will be plain before us: by taking, and keeping fast hold of instruction, we shall avoid being straitened or stumbling.