New Living Translation
Proverbs 4:20
20My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words.
Proverbs 4:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
- New International Version (NIV)My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.
- English Standard Version (ESV)My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
- New King James Version (NKJV)My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
Context of Proverbs 4:20
18The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. 19But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over. My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. 21Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, 22for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.
Read all of Proverbs 4Proverbs 4:20 word by word
בְּ֭נִי לִדְבָרַ֣י הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה לַ֝אֲמָרַ֗י הַט־אָזְנֶֽךָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 4:20
- Proverbs 5:1My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel.
- Proverbs 6:20My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
- Proverbs 7:1Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands.
- Psalms 78:1O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying,
- Psalms 90:12Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.
- Isaiah 55:3“Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
- Matthew 17:5But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.”
Commentaries on Proverbs 4:20
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4-20Verses 4-20 The counsel which has come to him, in substance, from his father. Compare it with 2 Samuel 23:2 etc.; 1 Chronicles 28:9; 1 Chronicles 29:17; Psalm 15:1-5; Psalm 24:1-10; Proverbs 4:7 Or, “The beginning of wisdom is - get wisdom.” To seek is to find, to desire is to obtain. Proverbs 4:12 The ever-recurring parable of the journey of life. In the way of wisdom the path is clear and open, obstacles disappear; in the quickest activity (“when thou…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-27Verses 14-27 The way of evil men may seem pleasant, and the nearest way to compass some end; but it is an evil way, and will end ill; if thou love thy God and thy soul, avoid it. It is not said, Keep at a due distance, but at a great distance; never think you can get far enough from it. The way of the righteous is light; Christ is their Way, and he is the Light. The saints will not be perfect till they reach heaven, but there they shall shine as the sun…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-21pay attention: See also Proverbs 1:8, 23; 2:1; 5:1–2; 7:1–3; 8:1. The child should let these teachings change his personality, symbolized by his heart. Following wisdom for life needs a change of heart.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2220-22. (Compare Pr 4:10, 13; Pr 3:8, &c.).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 4:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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