Proverbs 4:5

5 Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding! Don't forget one word! Don't deviate an inch!

Proverbs 4:5 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 4:5

Get wisdom, get understanding
Not only moral and political wisdom and understanding, but that which is spiritual and evangelical; Christ, and the knowledge of him; he being the only happy man that has an interest in him, and is possessed of him by faith, which is the meaning of getting him; (See Gill on Proverbs 3:13); by which it appears, that what Solomon had before delivered, and afterwards repeats and urges, was the same his father David, that wise, great, and good man, taught him; and which he mentions, the more to recommend the getting of wisdom and understanding to others; forget [it] not;
when gotten, keep it in remembrance; be continually meditating on Wisdom, or Christ, his glories and excellencies; the fulness of grace and truth in him; the blessings of goodness which come by him; the great use and profit of having and enjoying him; neither decline from the words of my mouth;
the above instructions, and all others he gave unto him.

Proverbs 4:5 In-Context

3 When I was a boy at my father's knee, the pride and joy of my mother,
4 He would sit me down and drill me: "Take this to heart. Do what I tell you - live!
5 Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding! Don't forget one word! Don't deviate an inch!
6 Never walk away from Wisdom - she guards your life; love her - she keeps her eye on you.
7 Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.