Geneva Study Bible My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and {a} hide my commandments with thee;
(a) That is, keep them in your heart. So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply {b} thine heart to understanding;
(b) If you give yourself to the true knowledge of God without hypocrisy. Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and {c} liftest up thy voice for understanding;
(c) Meaning that we must seek the knowledge of God with care and diligence. If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid {d} treasures;
(d) Showing that no labour must be spared. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the {e} knowledge of God.
(e) This (he says) is the true wisdom to know and fear God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: {f} Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
(f) The word of God will guide you, and teach you how to govern yourself. To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Who leave the {g} paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
(g) That is, the word of God, which is the only light, to follow their own fantasies which are darkness. Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; Who rejoice to do evil, and delight {h} in the frowardness of the wicked;
(h) When they see any given to evil as they are. Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; To deliver thee from the strange {i} woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
(i) Meaning, the wisdom which is the word of God, will preserve us from all vices: naming this vice of whoredom to which man is most prone. Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. Which forsaketh the {k} guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
(k) That is, her husband, who is her head and guide to govern her, from whom she ought not to depart, but remain in his subjection. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. For her {m} house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto {n} the dead.
(m) Her acquaintance with her spirits and they that haunt her. (n) To them who are dead in body and soul. None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.
That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. For the upright shall dwell in the {o} land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
(o) They will enjoy the temporal and spiritual promises of God, as the wicked will be void of them. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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