Proverbs 4:1-7

1 My children, listen to your father's teaching; pay attention so you will understand.

2 What I am telling you is good, so do not forget what I teach you.

3 When I was a young boy in my father's house and like an only child to my mother,

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.

Proverbs 4:1-7 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.