Proverbs 4:3-13

3 nam et ego filius fui patris mei tenellus et unigenitus coram matre mea
4 et docebat me atque dicebat suscipiat verba mea cor tuum custodi praecepta mea et vives
5 posside sapientiam posside prudentiam ne obliviscaris neque declines a verbis oris mei
6 ne dimittas eam et custodiet te dilige eam et servabit te
7 principium sapientiae posside sapientiam et in omni possessione tua adquire prudentiam
8 arripe illam et exaltabit te glorificaberis ab ea cum eam fueris amplexatus
9 dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum et corona inclita proteget te
10 audi fili mi et suscipe verba mea ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitae
11 viam sapientiae monstravi tibi duxi te per semitas aequitatis
12 quas cum ingressus fueris non artabuntur gressus tui et currens non habebis offendiculum
13 tene disciplinam ne dimittas eam custodi illam quia ipsa est vita tua

Proverbs 4:3-13 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 Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.