Matthew Henry Commentary Proverbs 4:1-13

"Hear, [my] sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding: For I give you good doctrine; Forsake ye not my law. For I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live; Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth; Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee. Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her. She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will 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 paths of uprightness. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: Keep her; for she is thy life." — Proverbs 4:1-13 (ASV)

We must look upon our teachers as our fathers: though instruction carries reproof and correction, welcome it. Solomon's parents loved him; therefore, they taught him. Wise and godly men, in every age of the world and in every rank of society, agree that true wisdom consists in obedience and is united to happiness.

Get wisdom; take pains for it. Gain rule over your corruptions; take more pains to obtain 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 gaining 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 a firm hold of instruction, we will avoid being constrained or stumbling.