10 Hear, my son, and accept my words,
that the years of your life may be many.
11 I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered,
and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
guard her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of the evil.
15 Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know over what they stumble.
An important point emerges when we read between the lines in 10-13. The teach- ing and instruction of wisdom implies a response in those who are taught (as 'receive' in 10 indicates). But in point of fact, there are some who are not really amenable to in- struction. Their minds are closed because they think they know better. This attitude re- grettably obtains even in Christian people at times, especially when they claim direct inspiration by the Spirit of God, and direct access to His guiding, and scorn to listen to any 'human' advice. This is a plausible attitude from the spiritual point of view only until some thought is given to it. What they conveniently forget is that God's guidance so of- ten comes through the distilled wisdom of wise and mature people, in just the way that the writer indicates in these verses, and that He makes known His will to His children through such appointed means. This not only does not contradict what is said in 3:5 (see earlier Note), but in fact is its truest expression. It is the acquirement of wisdom that makes people wise enough to know and discern God's will in any particular situation, and such wisdom is characterised, not by a closed mind, but by sweet reasonableness that is prepared to listen.