10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.
10 Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.
10 Dear friend, take my advice; it will add years to your life.
10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many.
10 My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life.
8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
8 Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!
8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
8 Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.
(Read Proverbs 3:7-12)
There is not a greater enemy to the fear of the Lord in the heart, than self-conceit of our own wisdom. The prudence and sobriety which religion teaches, tend not only to the health of the soul, but to the health of the body. Worldly wealth is but poor substance, yet, such as it is, we must honour God with it; and those that do good with what they have, shall have more to do more good with. Should the Lord visit us with trials and sickness, let us not forget that the exhortation speaks to us as to children, for our good. We must not faint under an affliction, be it ever so heavy and long, not be driven to despair, or use wrong means for relief. The father corrects the son whom he loves, because he loves him, and desires that he may be wise and good. Afflictions are so far from doing God's children any hurt, that, by the grace of God, they promote their holiness.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 4:10
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.