Proverbs 4:7-17

7 1The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get 2insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will 3honor you 4if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head 5a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown."
10 6Hear, 7my son, and accept my words, that 8the years of your life may be many.
11 I have 9taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12 When you walk, 10your step will not be hampered, and 11if you run, you will not stumble.
13 12Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your 13life.
14 14Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil.
15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they 15cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness 16and drink the wine of violence.

Proverbs 4:7-17 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 16

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