Proverbs chapter 4
Solomon passes on teachings from David. Wisdom protects from trouble. It brings health.
SOLOMON PASSES ON TEACHINGS FROM HIS FATHER DAVID
VERSE 1. Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
sons. Previous chapters were addressed to “my son” (singular). But this chapter is addressed to “my sons” (plural).
to a father’s instruction. The Bible describes handing the faith from one generation to the next. We call this “generational teaching.” It is also known as “spiritual multiplication.” Read more »
VERSE 2. for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
law. The Hebrew word is torah. It is normally translated “Law.” But many translations render it here as “teaching.”
VERSE 3. For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
my father. That is, David.
my mother. That is, Bathsheba.
VERSE 4. He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
VERSE 5. Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
Get wisdom. David urged Solomon to get wisdom.
Maybe David’s admonition influenced Solomon to ask the LORD God for wisdom:
1 Kings 3:9. Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this great people of yours?
VERSE 6. Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
VERSE 7. Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
Wisdom is supreme. Nothing can be compared with wisdom.
VERSE 8. Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.
VERSE 9. She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
WISDOM PROTECTS FROM TROUBLE
VERSE 10. Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
VERSE 11. I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
VERSE 12. When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Book of Proverbs and from the entire Bible.
NAB translation: When you walk, your step will not be impeded, and should you run, you will not stumble.
When you walk. Some people have experienced years of chronic pain while walking. But then their ability to walk was gradually restored to them.
should you run. Similarly, some people have experienced years of chronic pain while running. But then their ability to run was gradually restored to them.
VERSE 13. Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
VERSE 14. Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
VERSE 15. Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
VERSE 16. For they don’t sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
they don’t sleep, unless they do evil. Wicked people are so taken up with evil that they are unable to sleep until they hurt someone.
VERSE 17. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
eat … drink. Sin is so much a part of the wicked that it is their food and drink.
VERSE 18. But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, that shines more and more until the perfect day.
the path of the righteous. Solomon assumes that believers will be wise like himself.
However, in our day, many Christian believers are not wise. Some of them exemplify the very foolishness that Solomon denounces.
VERSE 19. The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
WISDOM BRINGS HEALTH
VERSE 20. My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
VERSE 21. Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart.
VERSE 22. For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
health to their whole body. Some Christians believe we can be healed of our illnesses. Have you had a miraculous healing of an illness? Do you know someone who has?
VERSE 23. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
Keep your heart. We are to guard our heart.
VERSE 24. Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
perverse. The Hebrew word is iqqeish. It means crooked.
corrupt lips. If you are a Christian believer, your words need to build other people up, and not tear them down. Read more »
VERSE 25. Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
VERSE 26. Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
the path:
Proverbs provides both a goal and route. The goal is successful living and the route is the way of wisdom.
Robert L. Alden, Proverbs: A Commentary on an Ancient Book of Timeless Advice, p. 48.
VERSE 27. Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
PROVERBS
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Sluggard, Tree of Life, Misogynism
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.