Proverbs 24:32
New International Version
I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw:

New Living Translation
Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson:

English Standard Version
Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.

Berean Standard Bible
I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction:

King James Bible
Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

New King James Version
When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction:

New American Standard Bible
When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction.

NASB 1995
When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction.

NASB 1977
When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction.

Legacy Standard Bible
And I beheld, I set my heart upon it; I saw, I received discipline.

Amplified Bible
When I saw, I considered it well; I looked and received instruction.

Christian Standard Bible
I saw, and took it to heart; I looked, and received instruction:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I saw, and took it to heart; I looked, and received instruction:

American Standard Version
Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction:

Contemporary English Version
When I saw this, it taught me a lesson:

English Revised Version
Then I beheld, and considered well: I saw, and received instruction.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When I observed [this], I took it to heart. I saw it and learned my lesson.

Good News Translation
I looked at this, thought about it, and learned a lesson from it:

International Standard Version
As I observed, I thought about it; I watched, and learned a lesson:

Majority Standard Bible
I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction:

NET Bible
When I saw this, I gave careful consideration to it; I received instruction from what I saw:

New Heart English Bible
Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:

Webster's Bible Translation
Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

World English Bible
Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I see—I set my heart, "" I have seen—I have received instruction,

Young's Literal Translation
And I see -- I -- I do set my heart, I have seen -- I have received instruction,

Smith's Literal Translation
And I shall see and set my heart: I looked, I took instruction.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.

Catholic Public Domain Version
When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline.

New American Bible
As I gazed at it, I reflected; I saw and learned a lesson:

New Revised Standard Version
Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then I looked upon it, and considered it well, and I received instruction:

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I saw and I set my heart, and I received instruction.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Further Sayings of the Wise
31Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down. 32I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction: 33A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,…

Cross References
Proverbs 6:6-11
Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. / Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, / it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest. ...

Ecclesiastes 4:5
The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.

Proverbs 22:3
The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.

Proverbs 19:25
Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware; rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.

Proverbs 21:11
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.

Proverbs 1:5
let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel

Proverbs 15:5
A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.

Proverbs 13:20
He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.

Proverbs 9:9
Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.

Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.

Matthew 13:13-15
This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ / In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. / For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

Hebrews 5:14
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.

James 1:22-25
Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. / For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, / and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ...

Matthew 7:24-27
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. / The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock. / But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ...

Luke 8:18
Pay attention, therefore, to how you listen. Whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”


Treasury of Scripture

Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked on it, and received instruction.

considered it or set my heart

Job 7:17
What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?

Psalm 4:4
Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Luke 2:19,51
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart…

i looked

Deuteronomy 13:11
And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you.

Deuteronomy 21:21
And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Deuteronomy 32:29
O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!

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Proverbs 24
1. Precepts and Warnings














I observed and took it to heart;
This phrase emphasizes the importance of observation and reflection in gaining wisdom. In the biblical context, wisdom literature often encourages the reader to learn from the world around them. The act of observing is not passive; it requires active engagement and contemplation. The heart, in Hebrew thought, is the center of one's being, encompassing mind, will, and emotions. This suggests that true understanding requires more than intellectual acknowledgment; it demands a deep, personal integration of what is learned. The process of taking something to heart is akin to meditation, a practice encouraged throughout Scripture (Psalm 1:2).

I looked and received instruction:
The act of looking implies a deliberate focus and attention to detail. In the ancient Near Eastern context, learning often came through careful observation of nature, human behavior, and the consequences of actions. This aligns with the biblical principle that wisdom is available to those who earnestly seek it (Proverbs 2:4-5). Receiving instruction indicates a posture of humility and openness, recognizing that wisdom often comes from external sources, whether through direct teaching, life experiences, or divine revelation. This phrase also echoes the biblical theme that God provides wisdom to those who ask (James 1:5). The process of receiving instruction is not merely academic but transformative, leading to a life aligned with God's will.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Observer
The speaker in this verse, traditionally understood to be Solomon, is reflecting on a lesson learned from observing the world around him. This person is characterized by wisdom and a willingness to learn from everyday experiences.

2. The Sluggard's Field
While not directly mentioned in this verse, the context of Proverbs 24:30-34 involves the field of a sluggard. This setting provides the backdrop for the observer's reflection and instruction.

3. The Lesson
The event here is the act of observing and learning from the neglect and consequences seen in the sluggard's field. It is a moment of gaining wisdom through practical observation.
Teaching Points
The Value of Observation
Observing the world around us can provide valuable lessons. We should be attentive and open to learning from both positive and negative examples.

Heart and Mind Engagement
True wisdom involves both the heart and the mind. We must not only see but also take lessons to heart, allowing them to transform our actions and attitudes.

Learning from Others' Mistakes
We can gain wisdom by observing the consequences of others' actions, avoiding similar pitfalls in our own lives.

Diligence in Application
It is not enough to receive instruction; we must diligently apply what we learn to our lives, ensuring that our knowledge leads to action.

The Role of Scripture in Instruction
Scripture provides a foundation for understanding and interpreting the lessons we observe in life. Regular engagement with the Bible helps us discern and apply these lessons wisely.Verse 32. - Then I saw, and considered it well (Proverbs 22:17). I looked in this sight, and let it sink into my mind. I looked upon it, and received instruction (Proverbs 8:10). I learned a lesson from what I saw.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I
אָ֭נֹכִֽי (’ā·nō·ḵî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

observed
וָֽאֶחֱזֶ֣ה (wā·’e·ḥĕ·zeh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 2372: To gaze at, to perceive, contemplate, to have a, vision of

and took [it]
אָשִׁ֣ית (’ā·šîṯ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7896: To put, set

to heart;
לִבִּ֑י (lib·bî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

I looked
רָ֝אִ֗יתִי (rā·’î·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7200: To see

and received
לָקַ֥חְתִּי (lā·qaḥ·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3947: To take

instruction:
מוּסָֽר׃ (mū·sār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4148: Chastisement, reproof, warning, instruction, restraint


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 24:32 Then I saw and considered well (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 24:31
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