Proverbs 4:1-11

1 Sons, listen to [your] father's discipline, and pay attention in order to gain understanding.
2 After all, I have taught you well. Do not abandon my teachings.
3 When I was a boy [learning] from my father, when I was a tender and only child of my mother,
4 they used to teach me and say to me, "Cling to my words wholeheartedly. Obey my commands so that you may live.
5 Acquire wisdom. Acquire understanding. Do not forget. Do not turn away from the words that I have spoken.
6 Do not abandon wisdom, and it will watch over you. Love wisdom, and it will protect you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is to acquire wisdom. Acquire understanding with all that you have.
8 Cherish wisdom. It will raise you up. It will bring you honor when you embrace it.
9 It will give you a graceful garland for your head. It will hand you a beautiful crown."
10 My son, listen and accept my words, and they will multiply the years of your life.
11 I have taught you the way of wisdom. I have guided you along decent paths.

Proverbs 4:1-11 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.

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