4:13

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning. There are three parallel commands followed by the reason for obeying them.

13a
Hold on to instruction; do not let go.

13b
Guard it, for it is your life.

4:13a–b

Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it: For the meaning of Guard, see the note on 3:21a–b. In that verse, the Berean Standard Bible translates the same Hebrew word as “preserve.” The parallel verb phrases Hold on to, do not let go, and Guard are used figuratively. In some languages, it may be clearer to use a combination of nonfigurative phrases, such as:

Always remember (Good News Translation)
-or-
do not forget
-or-
don’t forsake (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
obey/follow

Use whatever phrases will give proper emphasis in your language. It may not be necessary to use three phrases.

4:13a

instruction: The word instruction may be translated as a verb phrase. For example:

what you have learned (Good News Translation)
-or-
what you have been taught (New Century Version)

In some languages, it may be necessary to make explicit who the teacher is. For example:

my teaching (Contemporary English Version)

The word instruction last occurred in 4:1a.

4:13b

it is your life: The clause it is your life is similar to 3:22a. The figurative meaning is that these instructions give life or are a source of life for the one who follows them. The nonfigurative meaning is that the person who follows these instructions will have a better or longer life.

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