Proverbs 4

Proverbs · Chapter 4

Proverbs 4:7

1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.2For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.3For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.4He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.5Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.6Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.8Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.9She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.11I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.12When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.13Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.14Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.15Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.19The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.20My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
[is] firstרֵאשִׁ֣יתre-SHITH7225G
first: beginning

רֵאשִׁית (re.shit) : beginning 1) first, beginning, best, chief 1a) beginning 1b) first 1c) chief 1d) choice part Also means: re.shit (רֵאשִׁית ": best" H7225H)

wisdomחָ֭כְמָהchokh-mahH2451
wisdom

חׇכְמָה (chokh.mah) 1) wisdom 1a) skill (in war) 1b) wisdom (in administration) 1c) shrewdness, wisdom 1d) wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs) 1e) wisdom (ethical and religious)

acquireקְנֵ֣הke-NEHH7069
to buy

קְנָא (qe.na) (P'al) to acquire, buy, purchase Aramaic of qa.nah (קָנָה "to buy" H7069)

wisdomחָכְמָ֑הchokh-mahH2451
wisdom

חׇכְמָה (chokh.mah) 1) wisdom 1a) skill (in war) 1b) wisdom (in administration) 1c) shrewdness, wisdom 1d) wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs) 1e) wisdom (ethical and religious)

and by allוּבְכָל־u-ve-KHOL-H3605
all

כֹּל (kol) 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

acquisition yourקִ֝נְיָנְךָ֗kin-ya-ne-chaH7075
acquisition

קִנְיָן (qin.yan) 1) thing acquired, acquisition, possession, purchased property, wealth 1a) thing acquired (by purchase) 1b) creatures (more general)

acquireקְנֵ֣הke-NEHH7069
to buy

קְנָא (qe.na) (P'al) to acquire, buy, purchase Aramaic of qa.nah (קָנָה "to buy" H7069)

understandingבִינָֽה׃vi-NAHH0998
understanding

בִּינָה (bi.nah) 1) understanding, discernment 1a) act 1b) faculty 1c) object 1d) personified Aramaic equivalent: bi.nah (בִּינָה "understanding" H0999)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.