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Trinity/After Pentecost · The Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity

Proverbs 4:10-23

The Path of Wisdom and Guarding the Heart

September 6, 2026

The Judgment of Solomon, Matthias Stom (Stomer)
The Judgment of Solomon, Matthias Stom (Stomer), 1638–1642Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, via Google Art Project
A Caravaggesque version, lit by a single source, with the true mother lunging forward out of the dark to stop it.Hear, my child, and accept my words. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, via Google Art ProjectThe oldest art museum in Texas, grown very large on oil money, and free on Thursdays.Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, via Google Art Project
Historic One-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 17:11-19Lk 17:11-19
EpistleGal. 5:16-24Gal 5:16-24
Old TestamentProv. 4:10-23Prv 4:10-23
PsalterPs. 119:9-16Ps 119:9-16

Overview & Insights

"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23)

A father urges his child to hold fast to instruction and walk in the way of wisdom, whose path is like the dawning light that shines brighter until full day. He contrasts it with the dark way of the wicked and calls the child to guard the heart, from which flow the springs of life.

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Take it further: Proverbs 4:10-23

Commentary

Enduring Word Bible Commentary Proverbs Chapter 4Enduring Word Bible Commentary Prv Chapter 4 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse by verse evangelical commentary on the path of wisdom and keeping the heart.

Proverbs 4:10 CommentariesPrv 4:10 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregates classic commentaries on the way of wisdom and the guarded heart in one place.

Proverbs 4 CommentaryPrv 4 Commentary Precept Austin

A deep gathering of word studies and cross references worked verse by verse through the father's appeal.

Proverbs 4, Expository NotesPrv 4, Expository Notes StudyLight

Thomas Constable's expository notes on the two ways and the charge to guard the heart.

Background & Word Study

Proverbs 4 in HebrewPrv 4 in Hebrew Sefaria

The Hebrew text with English alongside and traditional Jewish commentary links for the way of wisdom.

Proverbs 4:10 Hebrew InterlinearPrv 4:10 Hebrew Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers, useful for wisdom, the path of light, and the guarded heart.

The Church Fathers

Commentary on Proverbs 4 from the Church FathersCommentary on Prv 4 from the Church Fathers Catena

Patristic comment gathered verse by verse on the path of wisdom and the springs of the heart.

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