Seek Wisdom Like Hidden Treasure
Study note
The father tells his son that wisdom does not come automatically. You have to want it, ask for it, and search for it as eagerly as you would search for silver or buried treasure. The promise is that when you seek wisdom this way, God Himself will give it to you. He stores up wisdom for those who live right and acts as a shield to protect them.
1 My child, take these words of mine to heart and hang on to every instruction I give you. My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
2 Train your ears to pick up on wisdom and focus your mind on truly understanding things. So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
3 Call out loud for insight and beg for understanding with everything you have. Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4 Go after it the way someone hunts for silver or digs for buried treasure. If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5 If you do that, you will understand what it truly means to honor the Lord. You will get to know God for yourself. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
6 The Lord himself is the source of all wisdom. Everything worth knowing and understanding flows from him. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
7 He has a supply of solid wisdom set aside for people who live right. He stands like a shield in front of those who walk with integrity. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
8 He stands guard over the paths of people who act fairly, and he watches over the road that his faithful ones travel. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
9 When that happens, you will clearly see what is right,, and fair, and you will know exactly which direction to go. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
Wisdom Protects You from Evil
Study note
Once wisdom enters your heart, it acts like a guard, protecting you from two major dangers: evil men who enjoy doing wrong, and the unfaithful woman who uses flattering words to lead people astray. The 'strange woman' in Proverbs represents anyone who tempts you to break your commitments and betray your relationships. The path she leads down is described as leading to death.
10 When wisdom finds its home in your heart and you begin to truly enjoy learning, When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
11 good judgment will become your bodyguard, and understanding will stand watch over you. Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
12 They will pull you away from people who do evil, from those who twist the truth every time they open their mouths. To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
13 These are the people who abandoned the straight road a long time ago and now walk through the darkest alleys. Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
14 They enjoy doing terrible things. They celebrate when others go down the same crooked path. Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
15 Nothing about them is honest. Every move they make is shady and full of tricks. Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
16 Wisdom will also keep you safe from the unfaithful woman who uses sweet, smooth talk to lure you in. To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
17 She walked away from the husband she married in her youth and broke the sacred promise she made before God. Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
18 Going to her house is like walking toward death. Her path leads straight to the world of the dead. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
19 Nobody who goes to her ever makes it back. They never find their way to the road of life again. None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.
Walk the Path of Good People
Study note
The chapter ends with a simple promise: those who live honestly and do what is right will remain safe in the land, while those who do evil will be torn out of it. In ancient Israel, the land was God's gift to His people, and being removed from it was the worst punishment.
20 So walk alongside good people and stick to the road that those who do right are already traveling. That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
21 People who live with honesty will enjoy safety in the land. Those whose hearts are pure will keep having a home there. For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
22 But those who do evil will be ripped out of the land, and the unfaithful will be torn away from it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.