Proverbs 4:11 (WEB)

Passage

I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 4:9 She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”

Proverbs 4:10 Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.

Proverbs 4:11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.

Proverbs 4:12 When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.

Proverbs 4:13 Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "taught", "wisdom", "straight", and "paths". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "taught" and "wisdom", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 10's "Listen my son and receive my sayings..." into verse 12's "When you go your steps will not...", so "taught" and "wisdom" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "taught" and "wisdom" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.