---
title: "Proverbs 4 - Study King James Bible with the biblical illustrator"
description: "Read Proverbs 4 with the biblical illustrator commentary. 1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. 2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 3 For I was my"
image: "/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/the-biblical-illustrator/proverbs/4"
---

[ Read](/kjv/proverbs/4)[ Commentary](/study/proverbs/4)[ Interlinear](/interlinear/proverbs/4) Audio

 1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

 2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

 3 For I was my father’s son, tender and only *beloved* in the sight of my mother.

 4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

 5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget *it* not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

 7 Wisdom *is* the principal thing; *therefore* get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

 9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.*

 10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

 11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

 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.

 14 ¶ Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil *men*.

 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

 16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause *some* to fall.

 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

 18 But the path of the just *is* as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

 19 The way of the wicked *is* as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

 20 ¶ My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

 22 For they *are* life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.*

 23 ¶ Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it *are* the issues of life.*

 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.*

 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.*

 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
 
[Proverbs 3](/study/proverbs/3) [Proverbs 5](/study/proverbs/5)

## Commentary

 To verse 1
 
[Proverbs 4:1](/kjv/proverbs/4/1) 

*The instruction of a father.* 

**A religious home** 

**
I.**The love of a religious home. Two kinds of love for the offspring. 

**1.**The natural love. 

**2.**The spiritual love, which has respect to the spiritual being, relations, and interests of the children. 

**
II.**The training of a religious home. 

**1.**The parent’s teaching is worth retaining. 

**2.**The parent’s teaching is practical. 

**3.**The parent’s teaching is quickening to all the powers, intellectual and moral. 

**
III.**The influence of a religious home. 

**1.**The susceptibility of childhood. 

**2.**The force of parental affection. Religious homes are the great want of the race. (*David Thomas, D*.*D*.) 

**Paternal exhortation** 

Doctrine and law form the staple of this appeal. By “law” understand “direction*,*”**for life is an ever-bisecting course, and full of points that must bewilder inexperienced travellers. Do not venture upon great sea voyages without proper instruments and without being taught how to use them. So in life. Be enriched with doctrine or wisdom, and cultivate that tender filial spirit which gratefully yields itself to direction. It is at once wise and lovely for youth to consult the aged, and to avail themselves of accumulated experience. Any other spirit is vain, self-conceited, frivolous, and unworthy. Why should the father be anxious to instruct and direct the son? Because he has seen more of life, more of its mystery, its peril, its tragedy; therefore his heart yearns to preserve the young from danger. The father’s position is one of moral dignity and supreme benevolence. Having suffered himself, he would save his children from pain. (*J. Parker, D. D.*) 

**Attend to know understanding.
** 

**Knowing understanding** 

**
I.********Young men have need often to be called upon to get true knowledge. 

**1.**Because of their own backwardness to the work. 

**2.**The impediments and diversions from attaining true wisdom. 

**3.**There are many things to be believed, beyond the power of corrupted reason to find out. 

**4.**There are many practical things to be learned, else they can never be done. 

**5.**There are many faculties of the soul to be reformed. 

**6.**There are many senses and members of the body to be directed to many particular actions, and each to its****own. 

Uses: 

**1.**To blame young men that think their parents and teachers over-diligent. 

**2.**To urge children to attend to their parents instructing them in piety. 

**3.**To persuade parents and teachers not only to instruct, but also to incite to attention. 

**
II.**Every young man has need to be called on to look after true knowledge. 

**1.**Because there is no disposition to this wisdom in the best by nature. 

**2.**There is much averseness, because the principles of faith are above nature, and of practice against nature. (*Francis Taylor, B*.*D*.) 

**The invitation** 

**
I.**Let our own children receive instructions. This charity must begin at home. 

**
II.**Let all young people take pains to get knowledge and grace. They are in the learning stage. 

**
III.**Let all who would receive instruction come with the disposition of children. Let prejudices be laid aside. Let them be dutiful, tractable, and self-diffident. (*Matthew Henry*.)

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