Proverbs 4:1-8

1 My children, listen to what your father teaches you. Pay attention, and you will have understanding.
2 What I am teaching you is good, so remember it all.
3 When I was only a little boy, my parents' only son,
4 my father would teach me. He would say, "Remember what I say and never forget it. Do as I tell you, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom and insight! Do not forget or ignore what I say.
6 Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will keep you safe.
7 Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight.
8 Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will bring you honor.

Proverbs 4:1-8 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.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Embrace her; [or] Prize her highly.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.