Proverbs 1:15

1:15 My child, do not go down ¹  their way, ² 

withhold yourself ³  from their path; ⁴ 

Proverbs 2:1

Benefits of Seeking Wisdom ⁵ 

2:1 My child, ⁶  if ⁷  you receive my words,

and store up ⁸  my commands within you,

Proverbs 3:1

Exhortations to Seek Wisdom and Walk with the Lord ⁹ 

3:1 My child, ¹⁰  do not forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep ¹¹  my commandments,

Proverbs 3:21

3:21 My child, do not let them ¹²  escape from your sight;

safeguard sound wisdom and discretion. ¹³ 

Proverbs 4:20

4:20 My child, pay attention to my words;

listen attentively ¹⁴  to my sayings.

Proverbs 15:20

15:20 A wise child ¹⁵  brings joy to his father,

but a foolish person ¹⁶  despises ¹⁷  his mother.

Proverbs 23:15

23:15 My child, ¹⁸  if your heart is wise,

then my heart also will be glad;

Proverbs 23:19

23:19 Listen, my child, ¹⁹  and be wise,

and guide your heart on the right way.

[1:15]  ¹ tn Heb “do not walk.”

[1:15]  ² tn Heb “in the way with them.”

[1:15]  ³ tn Heb “your foot.” The term “foot” (רֶגֶל, regel) is a synecdoche of part (= your foot) for the whole person (= yourself).

[1:15]  ⁴ sn The word “path” (נְתִיבָה, nÿtivah) like the word “way” (דֶּרֶךְ, derekh) is used as an idiom (developed from a hypocatastasis), meaning “conduct, course of life.”

[2:1]  ⁵ sn The chapter begins with an admonition to receive wisdom (1-4) and then traces the benefits: the knowledge of God and his protection (5-8), moral discernment for living (9-11), protection from evil men (12-15) and immoral women (16-19), and enablement for righteous living (20-22).

[2:1]  ⁶ tn Heb “my son.”

[2:1]  ⁷ sn Verses 1-11 form one long conditional sentence in the Hebrew text: (1) the protasis (“if…”) encompasses vv. 1-4 and (2) the apodosis (“then…”) consists of two parallel panels in vv. 5-8 and vv. 9-11 both of which are introduced by the particle אָז (’az, “then”).

[2:1]  ⁸ sn The verb “to store up” (צָפַן, tsafan; cf. NAB, NLT “treasure”) in the second colon qualifies the term “receive” (לָקַח, laqakh) in the first, just as “commands” intensifies “words.” This pattern of intensification through parallelism occurs throughout the next three verses. The verb “to store up; to treasure” is used in reference to things of value for future use, e.g., wealth, dowry for a bride. Since proverbs will be useful throughout life and not always immediately applicable, the idea of storing up the sayings is fitting. They will form the way people think which in turn will influence attitudes (W. G. Plaut, Proverbs, 43).

[3:1]  ⁹ sn The chapter begins with an introductory exhortation (1-4), followed by an admonition to be faithful to the Lord (5-12). Wisdom is commended as the most valuable possession (13-18), essential to creation (19-20), and the way to a long and safe life (21-26). There then follows a warning to avoid unneighborliness (27-30) and emulating the wicked (31-35).

[3:1]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “my son” (likewise in vv. 11, 21).

[3:1]  ¹¹ tn The verb יִצֹּר (yitsor) is a Qal jussive and the noun לִבֶּךָ (libbekha, “your heart”) functions as the subject: “let your heart keep my commandments.”

[3:21]  ¹³ tn The object of the verb “escape” is either (1) wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in vv. 13-20 or (2) “wisdom and discretion” in the second colon of this verse. Several English versions transpose the terms “wisdom and discretion” from the second colon into the first colon for the sake of clarity and smoothness (e.g., RSV, NRSV, NIV, TEV, CEV).
NIV takes the subject from the second colon and reverses the clauses to clarify that.

[3:21]  ¹⁴ tn Or: “purpose,” “power of devising.”

[4:20]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “incline your ear.” The verb הַט (hat) is the Hiphil imperative from נָטָה (natah, Hiphil: “to turn to; to incline”). The idiom “to incline the ear” gives the picture of “lean over and listen closely.”

[15:20]  ²¹ tn Heb “son.”

[15:20]  ²² tn Heb “a fool of a man,” a genitive of specification.

[15:20]  ²³ sn The proverb is almost the same as 10:1, except that “despises” replaces “grief.” This adds the idea of the callousness of the one who inflicts grief on his mother (D. Kidner, Proverbs [TOTC], 116).

[23:15]  ²⁵ tn Heb “my son,” although the context does not limit this exhortation to male children.

[23:19]  ²⁹ tn Heb “my son,” but the immediate context does not limit this to male children.