Verses 1-4
v1 My son, accept my words!
Hide my commands inside yourself!
v2 You must listen to wisdom.
You should desire to learn.
v3 Ask for knowledge!
Cry aloud to learn more!
v4 Look for wisdom, as you would look for silver!
Search for it, as you would search for gold!
Commentary
We must greatly desire wisdom. We must listen to it. We must desire it. We must ask questions so that we can learn more. We must hunt for wisdom, like someone who searches for gold. Psalm 42:1 is similar. ‘My spirit needs God like a deer (wild animal) needs the streams of water.’ The animal searches for water. We also must search for wisdom.
A man digs deep into the earth. He breaks through the rock. He enters places that no animal has seen. He finds gold and silver. He discovers many things. However, he cannot find wisdom there. Wisdom is not in the deep sea. You cannot buy wisdom - not even with gold. ‘Respect God! This is true wisdom. Refuse to do evil things! This is true intelligence.’ (Job 28:28)
Verses 5-8
v5 Then you will understand how to respect God.
Then you will really know God.
v6 This is because wisdom is God’s gift.
God’s words provide knowledge and wisdom.
v7 He brings success to those who do right.
He protects honest people.
v8 He guards good people.
He protects those who trust him.
Commentary
If we respect God, then we shall become wise. God gives his wisdom to us. We are his people, and he guards us. He defends us, and he protects us. Psalm 23 compares God to a man who owns sheep. The farmer looks after his sheep. He provides their food and water. He cares about them. In the same way, God looks after us. When we are in danger, God protects us.
Verses 9-15
v9 God’s wisdom will teach you what is right.
You will understand how to make good decisions.
You will see what is fair. You will walk in good paths.
v10 Wisdom will enter your heart.
Knowledge will be a pleasure for your mind.
v11 Right decisions will protect you.
The things that you have learned will guard you.
v12 Wisdom will save you from evil men.
Wisdom will save you from their evil words.
v13 Evil men leave the right road.
They walk down dark paths.
v14 They love to do wrong things.
They are glad to do evil things.
v15 They choose the wrong path.
Their way is wrong.
Commentary
The Book of Proverbs tells us about two ways we could be. In verse 13, evil men walk in dark paths. They hide from the light because light would show up their evil behavior. In verse 15, Solomon says that evil men choose the wrong paths. It is easy to choose the wrong path in the dark! This wrong path is like their evil behavior. Their behavior is like a road that leads to death and hell (verse 18).
If we follow God’s wisdom, then our paths are good (verse 9). We are like travelers who choose the right way. We know where we are going. We act fairly. Our decisions are good. This is the right road for life’s journey. It leads to heaven (verse 19).
Verses 16-19
v16 Wisdom will also save you from wrong desires.
Another man’s wife will not attract you.
She tempts you to come to her. But she has left her husband.
v17 When she married him, she made promises.
God heard those promises.
v18 Do not go into her house!
Her house leads to death.
Her paths lead to hell.
v19 If you go to her, then you will not return.
You will not go to heaven.
Commentary
In these verses, a woman tries to tempt a man. Deuteronomy 5 lists 10 commands that God gave. One command was, ‘Do not have sex with someone else's wife or husband.’ (Deuteronomy 5:18) The woman in the Book of Proverbs refuses to follow this command. A man who goes to her is in danger.
Solomon is teaching us about other wrong actions. Sometimes wrong actions are attractive. Sometimes evil thoughts tempt us. Sometimes we might think that God’s law is not fair. Perhaps the man likes the woman. However, he must not go to her.
We must not do wrong actions when evil thoughts test us. The devil even tested Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). But Jesus did nothing that was wrong against God. God gives his wisdom to us. His Bible teaches us how we should live.
If we turn from God, this is like leaving a spouse. When you became a Christian, you promised to follow God. Evil thoughts may still tempt you. Other religions may tempt you. Sex may tempt you. Do not break your promise to God! Jesus said, ‘I am the way. The only way to the father (God) is through me.’ (John 14:6)
Even Solomon, who wrote the Book of Proverbs, turned away from God in the end. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Some of his women followed other religions. With his wives, Solomon prayed to other gods. The Bible says that Solomon’s actions were evil. (1 Kings 11:1-13).
God gave great wisdom to Solomon. He taught wisdom. His Book of Proverbs still teaches wisdom to us today. We must follow God. We must desire God’s wisdom. We must not be like Solomon when he turned from God.
Verses 20-22
v20 Do right, and you will walk with good men.
You will go along the right paths.
v21 Those that do right will live in the land.
They will remain there. The land will be theirs.
v22 Evil people must leave the land.
Their enemies will lead them away.
Commentary
God gave land to the nation of Israel. He warned them to follow his commands. If the nation turned away from God, then they would lose their land (Deuteronomy 28). Solomon knew that God had warned them.
After Solomon, the people served false gods. Some kings were good, but most were evil. God did not punish that nation immediately. God told the people to return to him. They did not return. After a war, they lost their land.
As Christians, our land is not this world. We are only visitors because we belong elsewhere. Our real home is in heaven (Hebrews 11:13-16). We must follow God. He will lead us to heaven where He has prepared a place for us (John 14:1-4).
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