KJV ORIGINAL
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Hold tightly to instruction and don't let it go. Guard it carefully, because it is your life.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is saying that wisdom and instruction are so valuable they should be treasured and protected like your very life depends on them.
📚 Historical Context
This comes from King Solomon's collection of wise sayings, written around 950 BC to teach young people how to live well. In ancient Israel, wisdom and instruction were often personified as a woman, representing the nurturing and life-giving nature of learning. Parents and teachers would pass down practical wisdom about relationships, work, and godly living through memorable proverbs like this one.
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