4:25

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

25a
Let your eyes look forward;

25b
fix your gaze straight ahead.

4:25a–b

Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead: Both of these lines literally say that a person should look straight ahead in the direction he is going. In Hebrew, the term your gaze in the second line is literally “your eyelids,” which may imply squinting in order to see better. It represents an intensification of meaning.

The figurative meaning of these two lines is that a person should focus his attention on the proper goal in life. He should steadily follow wise teaching without being distracted.

If the figurative meaning is not clearly understood in your language, it may be possible to make it explicit and still keep the figure of “eyes” or “looking.” See the second meaning line in the Display for 4:25a–b (combined/reordered) for one way to do this.

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