Pro 4:10-13 | NETfull | STEP | Listen, my child, and accept my words, so that the years of your life will be many.

Proverbs 4:10-13

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.”}
12 When you walk, your steps ^{▼▼ The noun צַעֲדֶךָ (tsa’adekha, “your steps”) and the temporal infinitive בְּלֶכְתְּךָ (belekht^ekha, “when you walk”) use the idiom of walking to represent the course of life. On that course there will be no obstacles; the “path” will be straight – morally and practically.} will not be hampered, ^{▼▼ The verb צָרַר (tsarar, “to be narrow; to be constricted”) refers to that which is narrow or constricted, signifying distress, trouble, adversity; that which was wide-open or broad represents freedom and deliverance.}
and when you run, ^{▼▼ The progression from walking to running is an idiom called “anabasis,” suggesting that as greater and swifter progress is made, there will be nothing to impede the progress (e.g., Isa 40:31).} you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, ^{▼▼ Heb “discipline.”} do not let it go;
protect it, ^{▼▼ The form נִצְּרֶהָ (nits^ereha, from נָצַר, natsar) has an anomalous doubled letter (see GKC 73 #20.h).} because it is your life.