Pro 4:10-19 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Prov 4:10-19: 4:10-19 The father again lays two paths before his children, encouraging them to avoid evil with its horrible consequences and to embrace good with its promise of blessing. 4:10 Not every wise person lives longer than every evil person, but obedience and wise living make a long, good life much more likely (see also 5:1-14 , 21-23 ; 23:29-35 ; cp. Eccl 2:12-17 ).

Summary for Prov 4:10-19: 4:10-19 ^a The father again lays two paths before his children, encouraging them to avoid evil with its horrible consequences and to embrace good with its promise of blessing. 4:10 ^b Not every wise person lives longer than every evil person, but obedience and wise living make a long, good life much more likely (see also 5:1-14 ^c, 21-23 ^d; 23:29-35 ^e; cp. Eccl 2:12-17 ^f).
Summary for Prov 4:11-12: 4:11-12 ^g Wisdom’s ... paths are straight (nondeceptive), while those of a fool are crooked (2:15 ^h).

• When you walk ... run: The wise reach their goals more quickly and efficiently.
4:16 ⁱ The wicked stay up at night to plan evil (Ps 36:4 ^j; Mic 2:1 ^k).
4:17 ^l To eat ... wickedness and drink ... violence means that those attributes are at the very center of someone’s life. Just as we eat and drink to stay alive, evil people sustain themselves by committing evil acts.
Summary for Prov 4:18-19: 4:18-19 ^m Light stands for wisdom and righteousness, and darkness stands for foolishness and wickedness (see Eccl 2:12-14 ⁿ). Light brings actions into the open; darkness hides them. Righteous people have nothing to hide, while the wicked try to hide what they do and end up stumbling over obstacles in the dark (see Matt 4:16 ^o; 5:14-16 ^p; John 1:14 ^q; Rom 2:19 ^r).