Proverbs 4:4-14

4 he 1taught me and said to me, 2"Let your heart hold fast my words; 3keep my commandments, and live.
5 4Get wisdom; get 5insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; 6love her, and she will guard you.
7 7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get 8insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will 9honor you 10if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head 11a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown."
10 12Hear, 13my son, and accept my words, that 14the years of your life may be many.
11 I have 15taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12 When you walk, 16your step will not be hampered, and 17if you run, you will not stumble.
13 18Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your 19life.
14 20Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil.

Proverbs 4:4-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 4

In this chapter Solomon advises to seek after wisdom, to avoid bad company, and to continue in the right paths of goodness and truth: he excites attention to what he had to say, from the relation he stood in to the persons addressed; from the nature of his instructions, which were good and profitable; and from his own example, in attending to those his parents gave him, Pr 4:1-4; He exhorts above all things to get wisdom, from the superior excellency of it, and from the preservation, promotion, and honour, to be had by it, Pr 4:5-9; and he further enforces big exhortations, from their being the means of a comfortable life, and of the prolongation of it, and of leading in a right way without straitness or stumbling, Pr 4:10-13. And then proceeds to caution against bad company, and going into a bad way of life; which is enforced from the mischief done by those that walk in it, and from the darkness of it, to which the path of the just is opposed, Pr 4:14-19. And the exhortation to attend to and observe his instructions, and keep them, is repeated, from the consideration of their being life and health to them, Pr 4:20-22; and that they might be preserved, and not departed from, direction's are given about ordering the heart, mouth, lips, eyes, and feet, Pr 4:23-27.

Cross References 20

  • 1. 1 Chronicles 28:9; [Ephesians 6:4]
  • 2. [Proverbs 3:1]
  • 3. Proverbs 7:2; Leviticus 18:5; Isaiah 55:3
  • 4. Proverbs 2:2
  • 5. [See ver. 1 above]
  • 6. [2 Thessalonians 2:10]
  • 7. [Proverbs 1:7]
  • 8. [See ver. 1 above]
  • 9. 1 Samuel 2:30
  • 10. [Song of Songs 2:6]
  • 11. Proverbs 1:9
  • 12. [See ver. 1 above]
  • 13. Proverbs 2:1
  • 14. See Proverbs 3:2
  • 15. See 1 Samuel 12:23
  • 16. [Job 18:7; Psalms 18:36; Psalms 119:45]
  • 17. Proverbs 3:23
  • 18. Proverbs 3:18
  • 19. ver. 22; [John 1:4; 1 John 5:12]
  • 20. Proverbs 1:15; Psalms 1:1
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.