DAWN

     Explanation: In Proverbs 4 Solomon encourages his children in the ways of wisdom by contrasting the benefits of wisdom with the injuries of folly. Today's painting symbolizes the pleasantness of the path of the righteous.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Proverbs 1. Proverbs 2. Proverbs 3. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Proverbs 4 - #1. Proverbs 4 - #2. Proverbs 4 - #3. Proverbs 4 - #4. Proverbs 4 - #5. ]

     In this chapter, Solomon, instead of addressing only his son, Rehoboam, addresses his children. He tells children to listen to his instruction and thereby to receive understanding. His doctrine is good, so he tells them not to forsake his law (1-2).
     The rest of the chapter seems to be the instruction of David to Solomon passed on by Solomon to his children, David's grandchildren. Solomon states that he was his father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of his mother; and his father commanded him to let his heart retain his words, and to keep his commandments and live (3-4). The command passed down to the generations was to get wisdom, get understanding, forget it not, decline not from it, and forsake her not. Then she will preserve you. Love her and she will keep you (5-6). Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; and with all of your getting, get understanding. Exalt her and she shall promote you; she will bring you honor when you embrace her (7-8). She will give you an ornament of grace and a crown of glory (9). Receiving these sayings will add many years to one's life (10). These are the ways of wisdom and the right path (11). It will keep your steps from distress; and when you run you shall not stumble (12). Therefore, take hold of instruction firmly; do not let her go; keep her because she is your life (13).
     Do not enter the path of the wicked; and do not go in the way of evil men; avoid it; do not go near it; turn from it; and go away (14-15). They do not sleep unless they have done some mischief or cause someone to fall (16). They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence (17). But the path of the just is as a shining light that shins more and more unto the perfect day (18). The way of the wickedness is darkness; they do not know at what they stumble (19).
     Therefore attend to these words and incline your ears to these sayings; let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to their flesh (20-22). Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of are the issues of life (23). Put a perverse mouth and devious talk far away (24). Keep your eyes looking directly in front of you (25). Ponder the path of your feet so that your ways will be secure (26). Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot from evil (27).

¹ Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father,and attend to know understanding.
² For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

³ For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
⁴ He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
⁶ Forsake her not,and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
⁷ Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
⁸ Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
⁹ She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
¹⁰ Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
¹¹ I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
¹² When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
¹³ Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

¹⁴ Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
¹⁵ Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
¹⁶ For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
¹⁷ For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
¹⁸ But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
¹⁹ The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

²⁰ My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
²¹ Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
²² For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
²³ Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
²⁴ Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
²⁵ Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
²⁶ Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
²⁷ Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.