Proverbs , Sarah Barry
HOLD ON TO INSTRUCTION
Passage: Proverbs 4:10~27  
Key verse: 13
10 Listen, my son,(A) accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.(B)
11 I instruct(C) you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.(D)
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.(E)
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.(F)
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.(G)
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;(H)
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.(I)
18 The path of the righteous(J) is like the morning sun,(K)
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.(L)
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;(M)
they do not know what makes them stumble.(N)
20 My son,(O) pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.(P)
21 Do not let them out of your sight,(Q)
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.(R)
23 Above all else, guard(S) your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.(T)
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes(U) look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[a] paths for your feet(V)
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;(W)
keep your foot from evil.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:26 Or Make level
Cross references
- Proverbs 4:10 : Ps 34:11-16; Pr 1:8-9
- Proverbs 4:10 : S Dt 11:21
- Proverbs 4:11 : S 1Sa 12:23
- Proverbs 4:11 : 2Sa 22:37; Ps 5:8
- Proverbs 4:12 : S Job 18:7; Pr 3:23
- Proverbs 4:13 : S Pr 3:22
- Proverbs 4:14 : Ps 1:1; S Pr 1:15
- Proverbs 4:16 : Ps 36:4; Mic 7:3
- Proverbs 4:17 : Ge 49:5; Ps 73:6; Pr 1:10-19; 14:22; Isa 59:6; Jer 22:3; Hab 1:2; Mal 2:16
- Proverbs 4:18 : Job 17:9
- Proverbs 4:18 : S Job 22:28
- Proverbs 4:18 : S 2Sa 23:4; Da 12:3; Mt 5:14; Jn 8:12; Php 2:15
- Proverbs 4:19 : S Pr 2:13
- Proverbs 4:19 : S Dt 32:35; S Job 3:23; Pr 13:9; S Isa 8:15
- Proverbs 4:20 : Ps 34:11-16; Pr 1:8-9
- Proverbs 4:20 : Pr 5:1
- Proverbs 4:21 : Pr 3:21
- Proverbs 4:22 : S Pr 3:8
- Proverbs 4:23 : S 2Ki 10:31
- Proverbs 4:23 : Pr 10:11; Lk 6:45
- Proverbs 4:25 : S Job 31:1
- Proverbs 4:26 : Heb 12:13*
- Proverbs 4:27 : S Lev 10:11; S Dt 5:32
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. Guard the word (10-19)
Solomon shows how a father should instruct his son: to listen to the word, accept it, hold on to it, and not let it go but guard it well. Then it will lead to wisdom and give life. It will keep one's steps from being hampered and from stumbling. We should follow the path of the righteous that is like the morning sun shining ever brighter until the full light of day. On the contrary, we should avoid the path of the wicked that is like deep darkness. They do not know what makes them stumble.
2. Guard your heart (20-27)
We must pay attention to the word of God, listen to it and keep them within our heart, for they are life and health. Above all else, we must guard our heart, for everything we do flows from it. We must keep our mouth from corrupt talk. We must use our eyes to look straight ahead and give careful thought to the path for our feet to take the only way, Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, let me hold on to your teaching and guard my heart from all wicked things. Make me like the rising sun Jesus who becomes brighter as time passes by!
One Word: Guard your heart