Pro 4:10-11 | NETfull | STEP | Listen, my child, and accept my words, so that the years of your life will be many.

Proverbs 4:10-11

10 Listen, my child, ^{▼▼ Heb “my son” (likewise in v. 20).} and accept my words,
so that ^{▼▼ The vav prefixed to the imperfect verb follows an imperative; this volitive sequence depicts purpose/result.} the years of your life will be many. ^{▼▼ Heb “and the years of life will be many for you.”}
11 I will guide you ^{▼▼ The form הֹרֵתִיךָ (horetikha) is the Hiphil perfect with a suffix from the root יָרָה (yarah, “to guide”). This and the parallel verb should be taken as instantaneous perfects, translated as an English present tense: The sage is now instructing or pointing the way.} ^{▼▼ The verb יָרָה (yarah) means “to teach; to instruct; to guide.” This is from the same root as the Hebrew word for “law” (torah). See G. R. Driver, “Hebrew Notes,” VT 1 (1951): 241-50; and J. L. Crenshaw, “The Acquisition of Knowledge in Israelite Wisdom Literature,” WW 7 (1986): 9.} in the way of wisdom
and I will lead you in upright paths. ^{▼▼ Heb “in the tracks of uprightness”; cf. NAB “on straightforward paths.” Both the verb and the object of the preposition make use of the idiom – the verb is the Hiphil perfect from דֶּרֶךְ (derekh, related to “road; way”) and the object is “wagon tracks, paths.”}