## Rashi on Proverbs Chapter 4

###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:1:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:1:1)

**שִׁמְעוּ בָנִים מוּסַר אָב.** הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Children, hearken to the discipline of the Father** The Holy One, blessed be He.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:2:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:2:1)

**נָתַתִּי לָכֶם.** הַנָּבִיא מִתְנַבֵּא וּמְדַבֵּר בִּשְׁלִיחוּתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וַהֲרֵי הוּא כְּפִיו:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**For I gave you** The prophet prophesies and speaks as an agent of the Holy One, blessed be He, and he is like His mouth.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:3:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:3:1)

**כִּי בֵן הָיִיתִי לְאָבִי.** אִם תֹּאמַר: שְׁלֹמֹה הָיָה שׂוֹנֵא הַבְּרִיּוֹת, שֶׁהִזְהִירָן עַל הַגָּזֵל וְעַל הָעֲרָיוֹת, דָּבָר שֶׁנַּפְשׁוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם מִתְאַוָּה לָהֶם, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: **כִּי בֵן הָיִיתִי וְגוֹ׳ רַךְ וְיָחִיד וְגוֹ׳.** שֶׁהָיָה אוֹהֵב אוֹתִי יוֹתֵר:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**For I was a son to my father** Lest you say that Solomon hated people because he admonished them concerning robbery and immorality, something a person desires, he therefore states: I was a son, etc., a tender one and an only one, etc., that he loved me very much.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:4:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:4:1)

**וַיּוֹרֵנִי.** עַל כָּךְ וַיּוֹכִיחֵנִי **וַיֹּאמֶר לִי יִתְמָךְ דְבָרַי לִבֶּךָ.** וּלְפִי שֶׁהוֹכִיחֵנִי בִּדְבָרִים אֵלּוּ, לְכָךְ אֲנִי מַזְהִירְכֶם עַל כָּךְ (רבי יוסף קרא). דָּבָר אַחֵר: **כִּי בֵן הָיִיתִי לְאָבִי**, הַנָּבִיא אוֹמֵר: בֵּן הָיִיתִי לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁהִשְׁרָה רוּחוֹ עָלַי. וּמָצִינוּ שֶׁקְּרָאוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִשְׁלֹמֹה בֵּן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״אֲנִי אֶהְיֶה לּוֹ לְאָב וְגוֹ׳״ (שמואל ב ז:יד):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**And he instructed me** concerning that and he chastised me **and said to me, “May your heart draw near to my words** And since he chastened me with these words, therefore I admonish you concerning this (Rabbi Joseph Kara). Another explanation: **For I was a son to my Father** The prophet says, “I was a son to the Holy One, blessed be He, Who caused His spirit to rest upon me.” Now we find that the Holy One, blessed be He, called Solomon a son, for it is stated (II Sam. 7:14): “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to Me a son.”


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:4:2
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:4:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:4:2)

**רַךְ וְיָחִיד לִפְנֵי אִמִּי.** לְאֻמָּתִי אֲנִי נִבְחָר וְחָבִיב כְּבֵן רַךְ וְיָחִיד, לְכָךְ **וַיּוֹרֵנִי אָבִי**:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**a tender one and an only one before my mother** Heb. לפני אמי, before my nation (אמתי) I am chosen and beloved like a tender and only son. Therefore, my father instructed me.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:6:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:6:1)

**אַל תַּעַזְבֶהָ וְגוֹ׳ אֱהָבֶהָ.** אֱהוֹב אוֹתָהּ:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her** Heb. אהבה, love her.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:7:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:7:1)

**רֵאשִׁית חָכְמָה קְנֵה חָכְמָה.** תְּחִלַּת חָכְמָתְךָ לְמוֹד מֵאֲחֵרִים, קְנֵה לְךָ שְׁמוּעָה מִפִּי הָרַב, וְאַחַר כָּךְ **בְּכָל קִנְיָנְךָ קְנֵה בִינָה**, תִּתְבּוֹנֵן בָּהּ מֵעַצְמְךָ לְהַשְׂכִּיל הַטְּעָמִים, דָּבָר מִתּוֹךְ דָּבָר:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**The beginning of wisdom [is to] acquire wisdom** At the beginning of your wisdom, learn from others and acquire for yourself the tradition from the mouth of the teacher, and afterwards with all your possession acquire understanding. Concentrate on it by yourself to understand the reasons, thereby deriving one thing from another.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:8:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:8:1)

**סַלְסְלֶהָ.** חַפְּשֶׂהָ, הֱיֵה חוֹזֵר עָלֶיהָ לְדַקְדֵּק בָּהּ. כְּמוֹ ״כְּבוֹצֵר עַל סַלְסִלּוֹת״ (ירמיהו ו:ט) – הַחוֹזֵר וְהוֹלֵךְ בַּכֶּרֶם וּמֵשִׁיב יָדוֹ לְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת הָעוֹלֵלוֹת. וּבִלְשׁוֹן חֲכָמִים (תנחומא, וישב ח): מְסַלְסֵל בִּשְׂעָרוֹ:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Search for her** Heb. סלסלה search for her. Review it to examine it minutely, as in (Jer. 6:9): “as a vintager over the searchings (סלסלות)” who goes repeatedly through the vineyard and brings back his hand to search for the single grapes. In the expression of the Sages (Rosh Hashanah 26b), curls (מסלסל) his hair.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:9:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:9:1)

**תִּתֵּן לְרֹאשְׁךָ לִוְיַת חֵן.** חֶבְרַת חֵן, כְּמוֹ ״לִוְיַת חֵן הֵם לְרֹאשֶׁךָ״ (משלי א:ט):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**She will give your head a wreath of grace** Heb. לוית חן, a wreath of grace, as in (1:9): “They are a wreath of grace (לוית חן) for your head.”


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:10:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:10:1)

**שְׁמַע בְּנִי וְקַח אֲמָרַי וְגוֹ׳**:


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:12:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:12:1)

**בְּלֶכְתְּךָ לֹא יֵצַר צַעֲדֶךָ.** מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ מַרְחִיק רַגְלָיו, קָרוֹב לִיפּוֹל:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**When you walk, your step will not be straightened** One who does not spread out his legs is likely to fall.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:13:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:13:1)

**הַחֲזֵק בַּמּוּסָר אַל תֶּרֶף.** אֱחוֹז בַּתּוֹרָה, כְּמוֹ ״וְהַחֲזִיקִי אֶת יָדֵךְ בּוֹ״ (בראשית כא:יח), ״וַיִּשְׁלַח יָדוֹ וַיַּחֲזֶק בּוֹ״ (שמות ד:ד):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Take fast hold of discipline, do not let it loose** Grasp the Torah, as in (Gen. 21:18) “and grasp (והחזיקי) your hand onto him”; (Ex. 4:4) “and he stretched out his hand and grasped it (ויחזק).”


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:14:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:14:1)

**בְּאֹרַח רְשָׁעִים אַל תָּבֹא וְאַל תְּאַשֵּׁר.** וְאַל תִּדְרֹךְ, כְּמוֹ ״בַּאֲשֻׁרוֹ אָחֲזָה רַגְלִי״ (איוב כג:יא), וְכֵן ״וְנָבוֹן יָבִין לַאֲשֻׁרוֹ״ (משלי יד:טו):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**You shall not come in the way of the wicked, and do not walk** [as translated,] do not walk, as in (Job 23:11), “My foot has held to His path,” and as in (Proverbs 14:15), “but a cunning man understands his steps.”


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:15:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:15:1)

**פָּרְעֵהוּ.** בַּטְּלֵהוּ:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Avoid it** Heb. פרע, put it to naught.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:15:2
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:15:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:15:2)

**שְׂטֵה מֵעָלָיו.** סוּר:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**turn away from it** Heb. שטה, turn away.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:16:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:16:1)

**כִּי לֹא יִשְׁנוּ.** אֵינָם יְכוֹלִין לִישֹׁן:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**For they will not sleep** They are unable to sleep.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:18:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:18:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:18:1)

**וְאֹרַח צַדִּיקִים כְּאוֹר נֹגַהּ.** שֶׁהוֹלֵךְ וּמֵאִיר מֵעַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**But the way of the righteous is like the light of dawn** which shines and illuminates from the first ray of dawn.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:18:2
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:18:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:18:2)

**עַד נְכוֹן הַיּוֹם.** עַד חֲצוֹת הַיּוֹם, שֶׁהוּא בֵּרוּרוֹ שֶׁל יוֹם:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**until the day is perfect** Until midday, which is the brightest time of day.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:19:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:19:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:19:1)

**דֶּרֶךְ רְשָׁעִים כָּאֲפֵלָה לֹא יָדְעוּ בַּמֶּה יִכָּשֵׁלוּ.** פִּתְאוֹם יָבֹא לָהֶם מִכְשׁוֹל, וְלֹא יֵדְעוּ לְהִזָּהֵר מִמֶּנּוּ:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**The way of the wicked is like pitch darkness; they do not know on what they stumble** Suddenly, an obstacle will come to them, and they will not know how to beware of it.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:20:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:20:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:20:1)

**בְּנִי לִדְבָרַי הַקְשִׁיבָה וְגוֹ׳**:


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:22:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:22:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:22:1)

**לְמוֹצְאֵיהֶם.** לְשׁוֹן מְצִיאָה:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**for those who find them** Heb. למצאיהם, an expression of finding.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:23:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:23:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:23:1)

**מִכָּל מִשְׁמָר.** מִכָּל מַה שֶּׁאָמְרָה תּוֹרָה הִשָּׁמֶר **נְצֹר לִבְּךָ** (מֵעֲבוֹר עָלָיו), בֵּין עֲבֵרָה קַלָּה בֵּין עֲבֵרָה חֲמוּרָה:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**From every interdict** From whatever the Torah commanded to beware of, guard your heart (from transgressing), regardless whether it is a minor sin or a grave sin.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:23:2
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:23:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:23:2)

**כִּי מִמֶּנּוּ תּוֹצְאוֹת חַיִּים.** כִּי מֵאוֹתוֹ שֶׁהוּא קַל יִהְיוּ לְךָ חַיִּים וְשָׂכָר גָּדוֹל אִם תְּקַיְּמֶנּוּ. כָּךְ דָּרַשׁ רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא (תנחומא, כי תצא ב):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**for the issues of life [come] out of it** For from even a minor one you shall have life and a great reward if you fulfill it—so did Rabbi Tanhuma expound.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:24:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:24:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:24:1)

**הָסֵר מִמְּךָ עִקְּשׁוּת פֶּה.** לֹא תַּעֲשֶׂה דָבָר שֶׁיַּלְעִיזוּ בּוֹ הַבְּרִיּוֹת וְיַעֲקִימוּ עָלֶיךָ פִּיהֶם:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Take crooked speech away from yourself** Don’t do anything for which people will slander you and make their mouths crooked [when talking] about you.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:24:2
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:24:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:24:2)

**עִקְּשׁוּת פֶּה.** לְשׁוֹן עִקּוּם, כְּמוֹ ״תָּם אָנִי וַיַּעְקְּשֵׁנִי״ (איוב ט:כ). וּבַמִּשְׁנָה (חולין נו.): שִׁנֶּיהָ עֲקוּמוֹת וַעֲקוּשׁוֹת:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**crooked speech** Heb. עקשות. This is an expression of עקום, crooked, as in (Job 9:20): “Though I was innocent, He would prove me perverse (ויעקשני),” and in the Mishnah (Hullin 3:3) “its teeth are crooked and twisted (עקושות).”


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:24:3
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:24:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:24:3)

**וּלְזוּת שְׂפָתַיִם.** עִקְּמִימוּת שְׂפָתַיִם, שֶׁלֹּא יַרְחִיבוּ הַבְּרִיּוֹת פֶּה עָלֶיךָ:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**devious lips** Crooked lips, that the people should not open their mouth wide [when talking] about you.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:25:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:25:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:25:1)

**עֵינֶיךָ לְנֹכַח יַבִּיטוּ.** יִסְתַּכְּלוּ אֶל הָאֱמֶת וְאֶל הַיֹּשֶׁר:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Let your eyes look forward** Let them look to truth and uprightness.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:25:2
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:25:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:25:2)

**יַיְשִׁירוּ נֶגְדֶּךָ.** יִסְתַּכְּלוּ עַל הַיְשָׁרָה, לְיַשֵּׁר דַּרְכְּךָ נֶגְדֶּךָ:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**and let your eyelids look straight ahead of you** Let them look at what is upright, to straighten your way before you.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:26:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:26:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:26:1)

**פַּלֵּס מַעְגַּל רַגְלֶךָ.** שְׁקוֹל דַּרְכְּךָ: הֶפְסֵד מִצְוָה כְּנֶגֶד שְׂכָרָהּ, וּשְׂכַר עֲבֵרָה כְּנֶגֶד הֶפְסֵדָהּ (אבות ב:א), וְאָז **כָּל דְּרָכֶיךָ יִכֹּנוּ**:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Weigh the path of your feet** Weigh your way: the loss of a commandment against its reward and the reward of a sin against its loss, and then all your ways will be established.


###### Rashi on Proverbs 4:27:1
[Rashi on Proverbs 4:27:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Proverbs/r/4:27:1)

**אַל תֵּט יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול.** מִן הַמִּשְׁקָל הַטּוֹב:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**Turn neither right nor left** of the good weight.