Proverbs Chapter 2 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.
20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
About This Proverb:
Themes: Pursuit of Wisdom, Moral Discernment, Protection from Evil
| Scholar / Institution & Work | Views on Themes Related to This Proverb (Added Verse for Emphasis) |
|---|---|
| Clement of Alexandria (c. 150–215, Stromata, Alexandria) | Wisdom protects the believer from destructive influences. Attentive listening and ethical reflection guide moral choices (Verses 1–5). |
| Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130–202, Against Heresies, Lyons) | Pursuit of wisdom is essential for discerning good from evil. Instruction and reflection guard the soul from corruption (Verses 6–8). |
| Origen (c. 184–253, On First Principles, Alexandria) | Moral insight arises from the diligent study of divine instruction. Wisdom directs ethical living and shields against temptation (Verses 9–10). |
| Augustine of Hippo (354–430, De Doctrina Christiana, Hippo Regius) | Ethical discernment is cultivated through reverence for God. Wisdom provides protection from moral pitfalls (Verses 11–12). |
| Basil the Great (c. 329–379, Letters and Ascetic Writings, Caesarea) | Instruction equips the believer to navigate challenges ethically. Prudence and vigilance guard the soul against evil (Verses 13–15). |
| Chrysostom (c. 347–407, Homilies on Proverbs, Constantinople) | Wisdom safeguards against the path of the wicked. Ethical reflection preserves both moral and spiritual integrity (Verses 12–14). |
| John Calvin (1509–1564, Commentary on the Book of Proverbs, Geneva) | Pursuit of understanding strengthens moral judgment. Careful attention to instruction protects the believer from harm (Verses 2–5). |
| Matthew Henry (1662–1714, Commentary on the Whole Bible, England) | Wisdom provides guidance through temptation and danger. Vigilance and discernment ensure moral stability (Verses 6–8). |
| Richard Baxter (1615–1691, The Practical Works of Richard Baxter, England) | Ethical reflection and attention to teaching cultivate prudence. Wisdom shields from the snares of evil (Verses 9–10). |
| John Owen (1616–1683, Works on Spiritual Life, England) | Diligent pursuit of instruction strengthens character. Ethical vigilance maintains spiritual and moral health (Verses 11–12). |
| Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274, Summa Theologica, University of Paris) | Prudence and reflection protect against the corrupting influence of evil. Ethical discernment is nurtured through instruction (Verses 13–15). |
| Peter Lombard (c. 1100–1160, Sentences, University of Paris) | Wisdom cultivates the ability to distinguish good from evil. Guidance and reflection sustain moral integrity (Verses 5–6). |
| Richard Hooker (1554–1600, Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, England) | The study of divine instruction guides ethical conduct. Prudence protects the soul from harmful choices (Verses 7–8). |
| Thomas Watson (1620–1686, Body of Divinity, England) | Ethical vigilance ensures moral stability. Wisdom preserves the believer from the way of the wicked (Verses 9–11). |
| John Lightfoot (1602–1675, Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae, Cambridge) | Attentive reflection strengthens discernment. Wisdom provides moral protection and ethical guidance (Verses 2–5). |
| Hugh Binning (1627–1653, The Christian Academy, Scotland) | Ethical and spiritual insight arises from pursuing understanding. Vigilance and prudence protect from the path of evil (Verses 6–8). |
| Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758, Sermons and Treatises, USA) | Wisdom cultivates discernment and moral awareness. Instruction guides the believer away from destructive influence (Verses 9–10). |
| Benedict Spinoza (1632–1677, Ethics, Netherlands) | Rational reflection directs ethical choices. Wisdom and discernment guard against corruption (Verses 11–12). |
| Jean Morin (1591–1659, Ecclesiastical History, France) | Ethical judgment is strengthened by diligent study. Prudence and moral insight provide protection from evil (Verses 13–15). |
| Francis Turretin (1623–1687, Institutes of Elenctic Theology, Geneva) | Pursuit of wisdom is central to virtuous living. Vigilance and instruction protect the soul from harmful paths (Verses 5–7). |
