The chapter opens with a plural address to sons, calling them to listen to a father's instruction and pay attention in order to gain understanding. The father presents his teaching as sound learning that must not be forsaken.
Proverbs 4:1-9
1 Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
2 for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
The father recalls receiving instruction from his own father while he was tender and beloved. The central charge is to get wisdom and understanding, not forgetting or turning away from the words of instruction. Wisdom is to be loved, prized, embraced, and exalted. She will protect, watch over, honor, and crown the one who holds her fast.
3 For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
4 He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
6 Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7 Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
9 She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
The father urges the son to accept his words so that the years of his life may be many. Wisdom leads in straight paths and keeps the learner from being hampered or stumbling. The son must not set foot on the path of the wicked, but avoid it, turn from it, and go on his way. The wicked are restless in evil, feeding on wickedness and violence. In contrast, the path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter until full day, while the way of the wicked is deep darkness.
Proverbs 4:10-19
10 Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
12 When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
16 For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
The final section intensifies the call to attentive reception. The son must keep the father's words within his heart, for they are life and health. Above all else, he must guard his heart, because everything he does flows from it. This heart-guarding expresses itself through truthful speech, focused sight, careful paths, steadfast direction, and refusal to turn to the right or left into evil.
Proverbs 4:20-27
20 My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24 Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27 Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.