Read & explore together
A Father’s Instruction
Proverbs 4:1–27 presents a father’s instruction that includes teaching he once received. The passage urges careful listening, determined pursuit of wisdom, refusal of evil, and steady attention to one’s inner and outer life.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In this wisdom dialogue, a father speaks to sons and recalls his own father’s words. The passage moves in order from listening and retaining instruction, to valuing wisdom, to avoiding the wicked path, and finally to guarding heart, speech, sight, and steps.
Proverbs 4:1–27Main takeaway
This passage teaches that wisdom must be deliberately received, treasured, and followed in the whole direction of life.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Listen and keep the wordsThe father begins by calling sons to listen, pay attention, and not forsake sound learning.
Explanation
The father begins by calling sons to listen, pay attention, and not forsake sound learning. He then remembers being taught as a son by his own father. This makes the instruction something received and passed on. The central command is to let the heart retain these words and to keep the commandments.
02Get wisdom because she is preciousThe repeated command is clear: get wisdom and get understanding, without forgetting or turning away.
Explanation
The repeated command is clear: get wisdom and get understanding, without forgetting or turning away. Wisdom is described as one to love, esteem, and embrace. This language shows strong commitment, not casual interest. The passage says she preserves, keeps, exalts, honours, and gives a garland and crown, showing great value.
03Hold instruction and avoid evilThe father says he has taught the way of wisdom and straight paths, so instruction must be held firmly because it is life.
Explanation
The father says he has taught the way of wisdom and straight paths, so instruction must be held firmly because it is life. In contrast, the path of the wicked must not be entered. It is linked with evil, making others fall, and violence.
04Guard heart, words, and stepsThe righteous path is like growing light, but the wicked way is darkness. Therefore the son must keep these words close, guard the heart diligently, put away corrupt speech, look straight ahead, and keep his feet from turning toward evil.
Explanation
The righteous path is like growing light, but the wicked way is darkness. Therefore the son must keep these words close, guard the heart diligently, put away corrupt speech, look straight ahead, and keep his feet from turning toward evil.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How does the passage show instruction being handed on?
Notice the father teaches his sons and also repeats what his own father taught him.
02What does the passage tell the listener to do with wisdom?
Collect the commands such as get, love, esteem, embrace, and hold fast.
03Which parts of life are named in the closing instructions?
Look for the words about heart, mouth, lips, eyes, feet, and the direction of one’s path.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Proverbs 4:1–27
1Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
2for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
3For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
4He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
5Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
6Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
9She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
10Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
12When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
15Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
16For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
19The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
20My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
21Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart.
22For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
23Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.