I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
Parallel translations
- WEB I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
- KJV I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
- NKJV I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.
- NASB I have instructed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths.
- NLT I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The father has taught the way of wisdom and led in upright paths. Godly instruction sets us on the right road.
Overview
The teacher reminds his son that he has been guided into wisdom's way and straight paths. The image of being led along a path stresses that wisdom is a whole direction of life, not isolated decisions. Christ himself is the way (John 14:6), and his Spirit leads his people in paths of righteousness (Ps 23:3; Rom 8:14).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Ps 25:4–5Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths.
- Eccl 12:9Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
- Prov 8:9They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
- Ps 23:3He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.
- Prov 8:6Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
- 1 Sam 12:23–24As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way.
- Deut 4:5See, I have taught you statutes and ordinances just as the LORD my God has commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land that you are about to enter and possess.
- Prov 4:4he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
- Acts 13:10and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
- Prov 8:20I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 4:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.