Proverbs 4:7-17

7 Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
8 Grow in wisdom, and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honour when thou hast embraced her.
9 She shall give to thine head an increase of grace; a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
10 Hear, O my son, and receive my words, and the years of thy life shall be multiplied.
11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have caused thee to walk in right paths.
12 When thou goest in these paths, thy steps shall not be hindered; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 Take fast hold of chastening; do not let go; keep this; for it is thy life.
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16 For they do not sleep, unless they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause someone to fall.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

Proverbs 4:7-17 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 Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010