“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
Parallel translations
- KJV Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
- BSB Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
- NKJV “Now therefore, listen to me,my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways.
- NASB ¶“Now then, sons, listen to me, For blessed are those who keep my ways.
- NLT “And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful.
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
Wisdom calls her hearers to listen, for those who keep her ways are blessed. Heeding wisdom is the path to true blessing.
Overview
Returning from the lofty reflection on creation, wisdom now applies the lesson with a direct appeal to her 'sons.' Those who keep her ways are pronounced blessed, echoing the beatitude form found throughout Scripture. To 'keep' wisdom's ways is the practical response of faith, which finds its fullest expression in following Christ and his teaching (Luke 11:28).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Luke 11:28But he said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.”
- Ps 119:1–2ALEPH Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to Yahweh’s law.
- Ps 128:1A Song of Ascents. Blessed is everyone who fears Yahweh, who walks in his ways.
- Ps 1:1–4Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers;
- Prov 5:7Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don’t depart from the words of my mouth.
- Prov 7:24Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 8:32 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
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