A Father’s Instruction
Listen, my sons, to the ainstruction of a father,And bpay attention so that you may 1gain understanding,Lit knowPs 34:11; Prov 1:8Prov 1:2; 2:22 For I give you good ateaching;bDo not abandon my 1instruction.Or lawDeut 32:2; Job 11:4Ps 89:30; 119:87; Prov 3:13 When I was a son to my father,aTender and bthe only son in the sight of my mother,1 Chr 22:5; 29:1Zech 12:104 He ataught me and said to me,“Let your heart btake hold of my words;cKeep my commandments and live;Eph 6:4Ps 119:168Prov 7:25 aAcquire wisdom! bAcquire understanding!Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.Prov 4:7Prov 16:166 “Do not abandon her, and she will guard you;aLove her, and she will watch over you.2 Thess 2:107 “aThe 1beginning of wisdom is: bAcquire wisdom;And with all your possessions, acquire understanding.Or primary thing is wisdomProv 8:23Prov 23:238 “aPrize her, and she will exalt you;She will honor you if you embrace her.1 Sam 2:309 “She will place aon your head a garland of grace;She will present you with a crown of beauty.”Prov 1:9
10 Listen, my son, and aaccept my sayings,And the byears of your life will be many.Prov 2:1Prov 3:211 I have ainstructed you in the way of wisdom;I have led you in upright paths.1 Sam 12:2312 When you walk, your asteps will not be hampered;And if you run, you bwill not stumble.Job 18:7; Ps 18:36Ps 91:11; Prov 3:2313 aTake hold of instruction; do not let go.Guard her, for she is your blife.Prov 3:18Prov 3:22; John 6:6314 aDo not enter the path of the wickedAnd do not proceed in the way of evil people.Ps 1:1; Prov 1:1515 Avoid it, do not pass by it;Turn away from it and pass on.16 For they acannot sleep unless they do evil;And 1they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.Lit their sleep is robbedPs 36:4; Mic 2:117 For they aeat the bread of wickedness,And drink the wine of violence.Prov 13:218 But the apath of the righteous is like the blight of dawnThat cshines brighter and brighter until the dfull day.Is 26:7; Matt 5:14; Phil 2:152 Sam 23:4Dan 12:3Job 11:1719 The away of the wicked is like darkness;They do not know over what they 1bstumble.Or may stumbleJob 18:5, 6; Prov 2:13; Is 59:9, 10; Jer 23:12; John 12:35John 11:10
20 My son, apay attention to my words;bIncline your ear to my sayings.Prov 5:1Prov 2:221 aThey are not to escape from your sight;bKeep them in the midst of your heart.Prov 3:21Prov 7:1, 222 For they are alife to those who find them,And bhealing to all 1their body.Lit hisProv 3:22Prov 3:8; 12:1823 Watch over your heart with all diligence,For afrom it flow the springs of life.Matt 12:34; 15:18, 19; Mark 7:21; Luke 6:4524 Rid yourself of a adeceitful mouthAnd bkeep devious 1speech far from you.Or lipsProv 6:12; 10:32Prov 19:125 Let your eyes look directly aheadAnd let your 1gaze be fixed straight in front of you.Or eyelids26 1aWatch the path of your feet,And all your bways will be established.I.e., prob. stay on the pathProv 5:21; Heb 12:13Ps 119:527 aDo not turn to the right or to the left;bTurn your foot from evil.Deut 5:32; 28:14Prov 1:15; Is 1:16