Proverbs 4:15

Some render it, seeing the word used has sometimes the signification of blessedness in it, "do not esteem the way of evil men blessed" {y}; nor reckon thyself or them happy that walk in such ways; they are far from it: hence the Targum, Septuagint, and Syriac versions are, "do not envy the ways of wicked men"; their seeming pleasure will end in bitterness: the Arabic version is, "do not imitate" them; do not follow their example, and do as they do. {y} Myer Krdb rvat "in via malorum ne te beatum existimes", Tiguriue version; "ne beatam praedices viam malorum", Michaelis. Proverbs 4:15 Ver. 15. Avoid it,.... As dangerous and pernicious, as abominable and detestable; or, "flee from it", as the Vulgate Latin version: Jarchi and Gersom interpret it, "make it void"; cause it to cease, destroy it, do all you can to hinder the wicked from accomplishing their designs; pass not by it; do not come near it; keep at a distance from it, that you may not be drawn into it; abstain from all appearance of evil, and everything that may lead to it; turn from it, and pass away; the Targum adds, "from them", from wicked men. This heap of words is used to show the danger of bad company; to dissuade from the least approach to it; and to express the vehement desire of the wise man to preserve his son, and all well inclined persons, from it. Proverbs 4:16 Ver. 16. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief,.... Or they cannot sleep, as Jarchi and Gersom interpret it.

4:14-27 The way of evil men may seem pleasant, and the nearest way to compass some end; but it is an evil way, and will end ill; if thou love thy God and thy soul, avoid it. It is not said, Keep at a due distance, but at a great distance; never think you can get far enough from it. The way of the righteous is light; Christ is their Way, and he is the Light. The saints will not be perfect till they reach heaven, but there they shall shine as the sun in his strength. The way of sin is as darkness. The way of the wicked is dark, therefore dangerous; they fall into sin, but know not how to avoid it. They fall into trouble, but never seek to know wherefore God contends with them, nor what will be in the end of it. This is the way we are bid to shun. Attentive hearing the word of God, is a good sign of a work of grace begun in the heart, and a good means of carrying it on. There is in the word of God a proper remedy for all diseases of the soul. Keep thy heart with all diligence. We must set a strict guard upon our souls; keep our hearts from doing hurt, and getting hurt. A good reason is given; because out of it are the issues of life. Above all, we should seek from the Lord Jesus that living water, the sanctifying Spirit, issuing forth unto everlasting life.

Thus we shall be enabled to put away a froward mouth and perverse lips; our eyes will be turned from beholding vanity, looking straight forward, and walking by the rule of God's word, treading in the steps of our Lord and Master. Lord, forgive the past, and enable us to follow thee more closely for the time to come.

Avoid it,.... As dangerous and pernicious, as abominable and detestable; or, "flee from it", as the Vulgate Latin version: Jarchi and Gersom interpret it, "make it void"; cause it to cease, destroy it, do all you can to hinder the wicked from accomplishing their designs; pass not by it; do not come near it; keep at a distance from it, that you may not be drawn into it; abstain from all appearance of evil, and everything that may lead to it; turn from it, and pass away; the Targum adds, "from them", from wicked men. This heap of words is used to show the danger of bad company; to dissuade from the least approach to it; and to express the vehement desire of the wise man to preserve his son, and all well inclined persons, from it.

Verse 15. - Avoid it; p'raehu , the kal imperative of para , properly, "to let go," hence "to reject, or abhor." (On the verb, see Proverbs 1:25 , where it is rendered, "set at naught.") The same verb also occurs in Proverbs 8:33 ; Proverbs 13:18 ; Proverbs 15:32 . It ; i.e. the way. The suffix of the verb in the original is feminine, "avoid her ;" derek , "the way," being common. Turn from it ( s'teh mealayv ). The original is a pregnant expression equivalent to "turn aside from it, so that you do not come to stand upon it." The word mealayv , equivalent to the Latin desuper ea , has much the same force as the French de dessus and the Italian di sopra (Delitzsch). The verb satah is , as in the Authorized Version, "to turn, or go aside." Pass away; avor , kal imperative of avar , "to pass over," equivalent to Latin transire , here means "to pass on, or along," "to go beyond," like the German Ger weiter gehn. The counsel of the father is not only "turn aside from," but "put the greatest possible distance between you and it." The injunction, so absolutely stated, to have nothing to do with sin, is required, if not indeed prompted, by the knowledge of the fact that youth, confident in its own power of resistance, frequently indulges in the fatal mistake of imagining that it can dally with sin with impunity. The only course compatible with safety is to entirely avoid it. Proverbs 4:15

On פּרעהוּ, avoid it (the way), (opp. אחז, Job 17:9 ; תּמך, Psalm 17:5 ), see under Proverbs 1:25 . שׂטה, elsewhere (as the Arab. shatt, to be without measure, insolent) used in malam partem, has here its fundamental meaning, to go aside. מעליו (expressed in French by de dessus, in Ital. by di sopra) denotes: so that thou comest not to stand on it. עבר means in both cases transire, but the second instance, "to go beyond (farther)" (cf. 2 Samuel 15:22 , and under Habakkuk 1:11 ), coincides with "to escape, evadere."

[Bible] 4:13. Take hold on instruction, leave it not: keep it, because it is thy life. 4:14. Be not delighted in the paths of the wicked, neither let the way of evil men please thee. 4:15. Flee from it, pass not by it: go aside, and forsake it. 4:16. For they sleep not, except they have done evil: and their sleep is taken away unless they have made some to fall. 4:17. They eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of iniquity. 4:18. But the path of the just, as a shining light, goeth forwards, and increaseth even to perfect day. 4:19. The way of the wicked is darksome: they know not where they fall. 4:20. My son, hearken to my words, and incline thy ear to my sayings. 4:21. Let them not depart from thy eyes, keep them in the midst of thy heart: 4:22. For they are life to those that find them, and health to all flesh. 4:23. With all watchfulness keep thy heart, because life issueth out from it. 4:24. Remove from thee a froward mouth, and let detracting lips be far from thee. 4:25. Let thy eyes look straight on, and let thy eyelids go before thy steps. 4:26. Make straight the path for thy feet, and all thy ways shall be established. 4:27. Decline not to the right hand, nor to the left: turn away thy foot from evil. For the Lord knoweth the ways that are on the right hand: but those are perverse which are on the left hand. But he will make thy courses straight, he will bring forward thy ways in peace. Proverbs Chapter 5 An exhortation to fly unlawful lust, and the occasions of it. 5:1. My son, attend to my wisdom, and incline thy ear to my prudence, 5:2. That thou mayst keep thoughts, and thy lips may preserve instruction. Mind not the deceit of a woman. 5:3. For the lips of a harlot are like a honeycomb dropping, and her throat is smoother than oil. 5:4. But her end is bitter as wormwood, and sharp as a two-edged sword. 5:5. Her feet go down into death, and her steps go in as far as hell. 5:6. They walk not by the path of life, her steps are wandering, and unaccountable.

s 4:12 Thy steps shall not be straitened; thou shalt manage thine affairs with great facility, and safety, and success. It is a metaphor from those who walk in a strait and uneven path, where they are apt to stumble and fall. ## Not stumble; not miscarry. Proverbs 4:13 The conductor, and preserver, and comfort of thy life. ## Proverbs 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked; avoid their courses and company. ## Go not; do not proceed further. If thou hast unadvisedly entered into it, do not persist in it, but get thee speedily out of it. ## Proverbs 4:15 Avoid it, pass not by it; keep at a great distance from it. Compare Job_22:23 Pro_5:8. ## Turn from it; shun all occasions of sin. ## Proverbs 4:16 They sleep not; they cannot compose themselves to sleep with quietness and satisfaction to their own minds. To fall into their own snares, either into sin or into mischief. ## Proverbs 4:17 They eat the bread of wickedness: the sense is either, 1. Wickedness is as necessary and as pleasant to them as their bread; which suits well with the former verse. Or, 2. They live wholly upon what they get by wicked courses; which gives the reason of what he last said, why they could not sleep without prey. ## The wine of violence, i.e. gotten by violence. See on the former clause. ## Proverbs 4:18 The path of the just is as the shining light; the common course of their lives or actions is pure and spotless, clear and certain, safe and comfortable, as light is.