BOOK 20 OF 66 · WISDOM & POETRY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Proverbs 4

Proverbs book home•Chapter 4 of 31•27 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Proverbs 4 Overview

A father passes on instruction he received, urges the son to get wisdom at any cost, contrasts the shining path of the just with deep darkness, and commands careful guarding of heart, mouth, eyes, and feet.

ProverbsBook

4Chapter

27Verses

PoetryDivision

Before you read Proverbs 4

Coming from

Proverbs 3 emphasized trust the lord rather than your own understanding. Because many proverbs are individual sayings rather than a continuous argument, the chapter-to-chapter connection is thematic rather than narrative.

In this chapter

Leads into

Proverbs 5 turns to marital faithfulness against the ruin of adultery, expanding wisdom into another set of choices, contrasts, and observations.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The chapter emphasizes formation by repeated instruction; “keep thy heart” concerns the inner source of conduct, not merely emotion. Proverbs uses compact wisdom sayings to train judgment. Its normal patterns describe how God’s moral order ordinarily works; they are not mechanical guarantees that remove human freedom, suffering, or providence.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

Guard the heart and stay on wisdom's straight path.

Wisdom truth

In Proverbs 4, wisdom is moral skill under the fear of the LORD, not merely intelligence or practical cleverness.

Discipline truth

In Proverbs 4, correction is a necessary part of growing in wisdom, but biblical discipline is never a license for cruelty or abuse.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Wisdom connection

James 1:5 says those who lack wisdom should ask God, who gives generously. This connection helps frame Proverbs 4.

Discipline connection

Ephesians 6:4 warns fathers not to provoke children to wrath while bringing them up in the Lord’s nurture and admonition. This connection helps frame Proverbs 4.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep wisdom in context

Do not read Proverbs 4 as a set of magic formulas. Proverbs trains wise judgment in the ordinary moral order God established.

Keep discipline in context

Discipline in Proverbs 4 is meant to form wisdom and character; it does not justify rage, humiliation, cruelty, or physical abuse.

Read Proverbs 4 watching for…

father's instruction.

get wisdom.

path just shining.

keep heart.

ponder feet.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-13A father urges his children to get wisdom and hold fast to instruction 14-19Avoid the path of the wicked; the path of the just grows brighter 20-27Keep wise words in the heart, guard the heart, and make straight paths for the feet

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

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Proverbs 4:2

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