The Path of the Righteous Shines Ever Brighter, Prov. 4,

Proverbs 4

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

¹ Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
   pay attention and gain understanding.
² I give you sound learning,
   so do not forsake my teaching.
³ For I too was a son to my father,
   still tender, and cherished by my mother.
⁴ Then he taught me, and he said to me,
   “Take hold of my words with all your heart;
   keep my commands, and you will live.
⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding;
   do not forget my words or turn away from them.
⁶ Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
   love her, and she will watch over you.
There is protection in seeking divine wisdom

⁷ The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
The beginning of wisdom is to value and treasure wisdom.
   Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
It is worth spending much money, to gain spiritual wisdom
.⁸ Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
   embrace her, and she will honor you.
⁹ She will give you a garland to grace your head
   and present you with a glorious crown.”
In normal circumstances, the wisdom which comes from God leads to exaltation, honour and glory.

¹⁰ Listen, my son, accept what I say,
   and the years of your life will be many.
¹¹ I instruct you in the way of wisdom
   and lead you along straight paths.
¹² When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
   when you run, you will not stumble.

God’s wisdom enables one to metaphorically proceed in a straight line without stumbling or tripping.
¹³ Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
   guard it well, for it is your life.
¹⁴ Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
   or walk in the way of evildoers.
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;
   they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
¹⁷ They eat the bread of wickedness
   and drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸ The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
In the normal course of events, the life of the righteous grows from strength to strength–in ever-increasing brightness.
¹⁹ But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.
Sinners find obstacles they do not understand in their paths.

Esv notes–The doctrine of the two ways. A choice between entering the way of wisdom and the way of folly. The path taken will determine the outcome of one’s life.

²⁰ My son, pay attention to what I say;

turn your ear to my words.

²¹ Do not let them out of your sight,

keep them within your heart;

²² for they are life to those who find them

and health to one’s whole body.

Following the counsels of wisdom enhance bodily health.

²³ Above all else, guard your heart,

for everything you do flows from it.

Watch your heart. The bitterness or unforgiveness in it. The things in your heart which you might long for more than you long for God. The idols in your heart which consume your thoughts.

²⁴ Keep your mouth free of perversity;

keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead;

fix your gaze directly before you.

²⁶ Give careful thought to the paths for your feet

and be steadfast in all your ways.

²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left;

keep your foot from evil.

Keep focused. Avoid evil.