41 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know intelligence; 2 for I give you good doctrine: forsake ye not my law. 3 For I was a son unto my father, tender and an only one in the sight of my mother. 4 And he taught me, and said unto me, Let thy heart retain my words; keep my commandments and live. 5 Get wisdom, get intelligence: forget [it] not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall keep thee; love her, and she shall preserve thee. 7 The beginning of wisdom [is], Get wisdom; and with all thy getting get intelligence. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honour when thou dost embrace her. 9 She shall give to thy head a garland of grace; a crown of glory will she bestow upon thee. 10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of thy life shall be multiplied. 11 I will teach thee in the way of wisdom, I will lead thee in paths of uprightness. 12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. 13 Take fast hold of instruction, let [her] not go: keep her, for she is thy life.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 4:1-13
Commentary on Proverbs 4:1-13
(Read Proverbs 4:1-13)
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.