Proverbs 4

Love wisdom

1 Hear, children, fatherly instruction; pay attention to gain understanding.
2 I'll teach you well. Don't abandon my instruction.
3 When I was a son to my father, tender and my mother's favorite,
4 he taught me and said to me: "Let your heart hold on to my words: Keep my commands and live.
5 Get wisdom; get understanding. Don't forget and don't turn away from my words.
6 Don't abandon her, and she will guard you. Love her, and she will protect you.
7 The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom! Get understanding before anything else.
8 Highly esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place a graceful wreath on your head; she will give you a glorious crown."

Stay on the path of wisdom

10 Listen, my son, and take in my speech, then the years of your life will be many.
11 I teach you the path of wisdom. I lead you in straight courses.
12 When you walk, you won't be hindered; when you run, you won't stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction; don't slack off; protect it, for it is your life.
14 Don't go on the way of the wicked; don't walk on the path of evil people.
15 Avoid it! Don't turn onto it; stay off of it and keep going!
16 They don't sleep unless they do evil; they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of evil, and they drink the wine of violence.
18 The way of the righteous is like morning light that gets brighter and brighter till it is full day.
19 The path of the wicked is like deep darkness; they don't know where they will stumble.

Be careful about what you say

20 My son, pay attention to my words. Bend your ear to my speech.
21 Don't let them slip from your sight. Guard them in your mind.
22 They are life to those who find them, and healing for their entire body.
23 More than anything you guard, protect your mind, for life flows from it.
24 Have nothing to do with a corrupt mouth; keep devious lips far from you.
25 Focus your eyes straight ahead; keep your gaze on what is in front of you.
26 Watch your feet on the way, and all your paths will be secure.
27 Don't deviate a bit to the right or the left; turn your feet away from evil.

Proverbs 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

Exhortation to the study of wisdom. (1-13) Cautions against bad company, Exhortation to faith and holiness. (14-27)

Verses 1-13 We must look upon our teachers as our fathers: though instruction carry in it reproof and correction, bid it welcome. Solomon's parents loved him, therefore taught him. Wise and godly men, in every age of the world, and rank in society, agree that true wisdom consists in obedience, and is united to happiness. Get wisdom, take pains for it. Get the rule over thy corruptions; take more pains to get this than the wealth of this world. An interest in Christ's salvation is necessary. This wisdom is the one thing needful. A soul without true wisdom and grace is a dead soul. How poor, contemptible, and wretched are those, who, with all their wealth and power, die without getting understanding, without Christ, without hope, and without God! Let us give heed to the sayings of Him who has the words of eternal life. Thus our path will be plain before us: by taking, and keeping fast hold of instruction, we shall avoid being straitened or stumbling.

Verses 14-27 The way of evil men may seem pleasant, and the nearest way to compass some end; but it is an evil way, and will end ill; if thou love thy God and thy soul, avoid it. It is not said, Keep at a due distance, but at a great distance; never think you can get far enough from it. The way of the righteous is light; Christ is their Way, and he is the Light. The saints will not be perfect till they reach heaven, but there they shall shine as the sun in his strength. The way of sin is as darkness. The way of the wicked is dark, therefore dangerous; they fall into sin, but know not how to avoid it. They fall into trouble, but never seek to know wherefore God contends with them, nor what will be in the end of it. This is the way we are bid to shun. Attentive hearing the word of God, is a good sign of a work of grace begun in the heart, and a good means of carrying it on. There is in the word of God a proper remedy for all diseases of the soul. Keep thy heart with all diligence. We must set a strict guard upon our souls; keep our hearts from doing hurt, and getting hurt. A good reason is given; because out of it are the issues of life. Above all, we should seek from the Lord Jesus that living water, the sanctifying Spirit, issuing forth unto everlasting life. Thus we shall be enabled to put away a froward mouth and perverse lips; our eyes will be turned from beholding vanity, looking straight forward, and walking by the rule of God's word, treading in the steps of our Lord and Master. Lord, forgive the past, and enable us to follow thee more closely for the time to come.

Chapter Summary

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.

Proverbs 4 Commentaries

Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible