Proverbs 4:4-14

4 my father taught me and said, "Hold on to my words with all your heart. Keep my commands and you will live.
5 Get wisdom and understanding. Don't forget or ignore my words.
6 Hold on to wisdom, and it will take care of you. Love it, and it will keep you safe.
7 Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom. If it costs everything you have, get understanding.
8 Treasure wisdom, and it will make you great; hold on to it, and it will bring you honor.
9 It will be like flowers in your hair and like a beautiful crown on your head."
10 My child, listen and accept what I say. Then you will have a long life.
11 I am guiding you in the way of wisdom, and I am leading you on the right path.
12 Nothing will hold you back; you will not be overwhelmed.
13 Always remember what you have been taught, and don't let go of it. Keep all that you have learned; it is the most important thing in life.
14 Don't follow the ways of the wicked; don't do what evil people do.

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.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.