Proverbs 4:1-10

1 audite filii disciplinam patris et adtendite ut sciatis prudentiam
2 donum bonum tribuam vobis legem meam ne derelinquatis
3 nam et ego filius fui patris mei tenellus et unigenitus coram matre mea
4 et docebat me atque dicebat suscipiat verba mea cor tuum custodi praecepta mea et vives
5 posside sapientiam posside prudentiam ne obliviscaris neque declines a verbis oris mei
6 ne dimittas eam et custodiet te dilige eam et servabit te
7 principium sapientiae posside sapientiam et in omni possessione tua adquire prudentiam
8 arripe illam et exaltabit te glorificaberis ab ea cum eam fueris amplexatus
9 dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum et corona inclita proteget te
10 audi fili mi et suscipe verba mea ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitae

Proverbs 4:1-10 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.

The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.