Geneva Study Bible Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. Hear, ye children, the instruction of a {a} father, and attend to know understanding.
(a) He speaks this as a preacher and minister which is as a father to the people, Pr 2:8. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. He {b} taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
(b) Meaning, David his father. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. {c} Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
(c) He shows that we must first begin with God's word, if we will that other things prosper with us, contrary to the judgment of the world, which make it their last study, or else care not for it at all. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. I have {d} taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
(d) Solomon declares what care his father had to bring him up in the true fear of God: for this was David's protest. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be {e} straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
(e) You will walk at liberty without offence. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they {f} sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
(f) Meaning that to do evil is more proper and natural to the wicked than to sleep, eat or drink. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. For they eat the bread of {g} wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
(g) Gotten my wicked means and cruel oppression. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that {h} shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
(h) Signifying that the godly increase daily in knowledge and perfection, till they come to full persecution, which is when the are joined to their head in the heavens. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their {i} flesh.
(i) That is, they will have health of body: under which all other blessings promised in the law are contained. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of {k} life.
(k) For as the heart is either pure or corrupt, so is the whole course of man's life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. {l} Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
(l) Keep a measure in all your doings. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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