Proverbs 4:4-14

4 Then he 1taught me and said to me, "Let your heart 2hold fast my words; 3Keep my commandments and live;
5 4Acquire wisdom! 5Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 "Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; 6Love her, and she will watch over you.
7 "7The beginning of wisdom is: 8Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding.
8 "9Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her.
9 "She will place 10on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty."
10 Hear, my son, and 11accept my sayings And the 12years of your life will be many.
11 I have 13directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths.
12 When you walk, your 14steps will not be impeded; And if you run, you 15will not stumble.
13 16Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your 17life.
14 18Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men.

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 18

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "the primary thing is wisdom"
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