Old Testament Commentary - Proverbs 2

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 2 The Lord giveth wisdom, knowledge, and understanding—Walk in the way of good men.
1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and ^ahide my commandments with thee^a; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine ^aheart 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 ^afear of the LORD, and find the ^bknowledge of God.	1^a hide my commandments with thee Put them in thy soul, write them in the fleshy parts of thy heart. Instill them in you. Make them the way of your doing, the way of your life. They are the standard of thy soul, which while they may not be seen, they do guide you in all that you say and do and are.	1^a OR treasure; Prov. 4:21 2^a 2 Ne. 16:10; 3 Ne. 19:33 5^a Alma 36:7 ^b TG Knowledge
6 For the LORD giveth ^awisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and ^bunderstanding. 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a ^abuckler to them that ^bwalk uprightly. 8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. 9 Then shalt thou ^aunderstand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.		6^a TG God, Wisdom of; TG wisdom ^b TG Understanding 7^a Ps. 91:4 ^b TG Walking with God 9^a 2 Ne. 28:30
10 ¶ When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 ^aDiscretion 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 ^awalk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the ^afrowardness of the wicked; 15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: 16 To deliver thee from the ^astrange 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.		11^a TG Rashness 13^a TG Walking in Darkness 14^a OR preverseness 16^a OR alien women, unchaste women were often called; Prov. 5:3 & 20; TG Adultery
18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 19 None that go unto her ^areturn 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 ^aupright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. 22 But the wicked shall be ^acut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.		19^a Eccl. 7:26 21^a Prov. 10:30 22^a Ps. 52:5