Proverbs 4:1 Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.

◄ Proverbs 4:1 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.

English Standard Version
Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,

New American Standard Bible
Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding,

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Listen, my sons, to a father's discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,

International Standard Version
Listen, children, to your father's instruction, and pay attention in order to gain understanding.

American Standard Version
Hear, my'sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding:

Douay-Rheims Bible
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend that you may know prudence.

Darby Bible Translation
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know intelligence;

Young's Literal Translation
Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.

Cross References

Psalm 34:11
Come, you children, listen to me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Proverbs 1:2
To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

Proverbs 1:8
My son, hear the instruction of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother:

Proverbs 2:2
So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;

Proverbs 8:33
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

Proverbs 19:20
Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.

Jeremiah 35:8
Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he has charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters;

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

4:1-13 We must look upon our teachers as our fathers: though instruction carry in it reproof and correction, bid it welcome. Solomon's parents loved him, therefore taught him. Wise and godly men, in every age of the world, and rank in society, agree that true wisdom consists in obedience, and is united to happiness. Get wisdom, take pains for it. Get the rule over thy corruptions; take more pains to get 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 getting 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 fast hold of instruction, we shall avoid being straitened or stumbling.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

CHAPTER 4

Pr 4:1-27. To an earnest call for attention to his teachings, the writer adds a commendation of wisdom, preceded and enforced by the counsels of his father and teacher. To this he adds a caution (against the devices of the wicked), and a series of exhortations to docility, integrity, and uprightness.

1, 2. (Compare Pr 1:8).

to know—in order to know.

doctrine—the matter of learning (Pr 1:5), such as he had received (La 3:1).