Proverbs 2:1

My son, if thou wilt receive, &c.— The attention of those who read this book being bespoken in the foregoing chapter, the wise man persuades not only to read, but to receive and obey his good counsels, by representing the benefits of being wise, that is, holy and virtuous, and the mischiefs that a man shall thereby avoid. The chief is, that he is sure to be under the guidance and blessing of God, who will impart more and more of himself to those who study wisdom; which is the scope of the former part of this chapter: and as, on the contrary, if he do not order his ways by the rules of wisdom, he is sure to wander most dangerously; so, if he keep close to them, they will preserve him from utter ruin; which is the design of the latter part of them. See on Proverbs 2:12; Proverbs 2:18. Instead of hide, we may read lay up. Schultens renders the second verse, By giving thine attentive ears to wisdom, thou wilt incline thine heart to prudence.