4:1 Listen, children, to a father’s instruction, and pay attention so that you may gain discernment.
Solomon asked his sons to pay attention to his teachings so that they could gain spiritual discernment.
4:2 Because I give you good instruction, do not forsake my teaching.
Solomon will give his children good instruction. He asked them not to forsake this teaching.
4:3 When I was a son to my father, a tender only child before my mother,
Solomon was the son of King David and Bathsheba.
4:4 he taught me, and he said to me: “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands so that you will live.
King David taught Solomon to keep the Mosaic Law.
4:5 Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding; do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak.
David taught Solomon to study and master Bible doctrine. Since David did teach Solomon to seek wisdom, this request may have influenced Solomon to ask God for wisdom.
4:6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will guard you.
David taught Solomon to not forsake Bible doctrine. Strong Bible doctrine would protect and guard Solomon. Solomon was to love Bible doctrine. Those who love Bible doctrine love God. Those who do not love Bible doctrine may be professing Christians. When a person says “I love Jesus,” but they do not know the Bible, then one must beware of this type of person. At best, they are a carnal Christian.
4:7 Wisdom is supreme—so acquire wisdom, and whatever you acquire, acquire understanding!
There is nothing more important in this life than mastering and applying Bible doctrine.
4:8 Esteem her highly and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.
Mastery of Bible doctrine needs to be one’s highest priority, One who pursues this path will be greatly exalted. They will be able to do great things for the Kingdom of God. They will be honored. Wisdom will lovingly embrace them.
4:9 She will place a fair garland on your head; she will bestow a beautiful crown on you.”
Those who master Bible doctrine will wear a beautiful crown upon their head. It is interesting to note that those who serve Christ will receive eternal crowns. Those who say they are not interested in crowns are devoid of Bible doctrine. One receives a crown for doing the will of God.
4:10 Listen, my child, and accept my words, so that the years of your life will be many.
Solomon used both the singular and the plural when speaking to his sons. He advised his sons to listen to his words so that they could live a long and productive life. A productive life is not earning money, fame, and power. It is knowing God and making Him known.
4:11 I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright paths.
An upright path is a straight path. It was easier and faster to travel on straight paths. The mastery and application of Bible doctrine leads one down the straight path.
4:12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered, and when you run, you will not stumble.
Those who master and apply Bible doctrine will walk in a straight line. Their steps will not be hampered. When they run with the gospel, they will not stumble.
4:13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; protect it, because it is your life.
Solomon advised his sons to never let go of the pursuit of Bible doctrine. They were to protect it with their life, because it was their life. Everyone is born to master and apply Bible doctrine. Many choose not to do so, so God allows others to fulfill His purpose. God will give the crown of carnal Christians to other mature believers.
4:14 Do not enter the path of the wicked or walk in the way of those who are evil.
Solomon warned his sons to stay off of the path of the wicked. This road leads to destruction.
4:15 Avoid it, do not go on it; turn away from it, and go on.
Solomon warned his sons to avoid the path of evil. They were not to go down this path. They were to turn away from it. They were to go on a different route. Strong Bible doctrine keeps one off the path of the wicked.
4:16 For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm; they are robbed of sleep until they make someone stumble.
Man is totally depraved and evil. He is born as a godless murderer, a thief, and a sexual predator. He cannot even sleep unless he is causing harm to the Kingdom of God. He is robbed of sleep, until he causes someone else to stumble.
4:17 For they eat bread gained from wickedness and drink wine obtained from violence.
Sin is so much a part of wicked people that it is like their bread and wine. Those who are totally depraved and evil make their money in godless ways. They may become drug dealers who addict children to lethal drugs. They may steal. They may assassinate. They may become a prostitute. They may publish pornography. They may sell themselves out to Hollywood. They may join the godless media and attack biblical principles. They may sell their soul to the devil and become a godless politician. They may become a judge who turns his head to justice for a cheap bribe. They may become a gang member who participates in godless acts of sex and violence. They may become a rock-and-roll singer who blasphemes God with their songs and lyrics.
4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, growing brighter and brighter until full day.
The path of the righteous is like the first rays of sunlight in the morning. They gradually increase to the full light of the noon day.
4:19 The way of the wicked is like gloomy darkness; they do not know what causes them to stumble.
The way of the wicked is like the deep darkness of the night which causes them to trip over themselves and stumble.
4:20 My child, pay attention to my words; listen attentively to my sayings.
Solomon once again spoke to his sons in the singular form. He asked them to listen to his words and pay close attention.
4:21 Do not let them depart from your sight, guard them within your heart;
Solomon advised his sons to not allow sound Bible doctrine to depart from their sight. They were to guard sound Bible doctrine with all of their heart.
4:22 for they are life to those who find them and healing to one’s entire body.
Those who find Bible doctrine will also find eternal life and spiritual healing.
4:23 Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life.
The Hebrew word for “heart” is לֵב (lab), meaning the values of a person. Solomon advised his sons to guard their values with all vigilance. The values of a person are formed by the amount of Bible doctrine which is taken into the soul. The values of a person dictate their sources of life.
4:24 Remove perverse speech from your mouth; keep devious talk far from your lips.
Solomon advised his sons to remove filthy speech from their mouth. Those who use profanity are not honoring God.
Solomon also advised his sons to keep devious talk from their lips. The Hebrew word for “devious” is לְזוּת (lezut), meaning perverse, crooked, or devious speech.
4:25 Let your eyes look directly in front of you and let your gaze look straight before you.
Solomon advised his sons to keep their eyes on the straight and righteous path. The straight path was the easiest road to travel.
4:26 Make the path for your feet level, so that all your ways may be established.
Solomon advised his sons to make their path level so that all of their strong Bible doctrine could be applied. The level path was the easiest road to travel.
4:27 Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn yourself away from evil.
Solomon advised his sons to avoid the evil path which strayed to the right and left. Sound Bible doctrine would keep them on the straight and level path.