Proverbs 4:9-11
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
9 She will put on your head a graceful diadem;
a glorious crown will she bestow on you.”
The Two Ways[a]
10 Hear, my son, and receive my words,
and the years of your life shall be many.(A)
11 On the way of wisdom I direct you,
I lead you on straight paths.
Footnotes
- 4:10–19 A central metaphor of the poem is “the way.” The way of wisdom leads directly to life (vv. 10–13); it is a light that grows brighter (v. 18). The wise are bound to shun (vv. 14–17) the dark and violent path of the wicked (v. 19). Singleness of purpose and right conduct proceed from the heart of the wise as from the source of life (vv. 23–26), saving them from destruction on evil paths (4:27; 5:21–23). As in 1:8–19 and 2:12–15, the obstacles to the quest are men and their way. Elsewhere in chaps. 1–9, the obstacle is the foreign woman (2:16–19; chap. 5; 6:20–35; chap. 7; 9:13–18).
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