[1] Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
A father — Of me, who have paternal authority over you and affection for you.
Verse 3
[3] For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
Tender — Young and tender in years, and tenderly educated.
Only beloved — Beloved above all the rest.
Verse 4
[4] He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
Said — The following verses, at least as far as the tenth verse, are the words of David.
Verse 7
[7] Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
With all — Even with the price of all.
Verse 8
[8] Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
Exalt — Let her have thine highest esteem and affection.
Verse 9
[9] She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
Grace — A beautiful ornament, such as they used to put upon their heads.
Verse 16
[16] For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
For — They cannot sleep with quietness.
Verse 17
[17] For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
For — Wickedness is as pleasant to them as their bread.
Verse 18
[18] But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
But — Just men daily grow in knowledge, and grace, and consolation, 'till all be perfected and swallowed up in glory.
Verse 19
[19] The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
Darkness — Full of ignorance and error, of uncertainty and confusion, of danger and misery.
Verse 23
[23] Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Heart — Thy thoughts, will, and affections.
For — From thence proceed all the actions, as of the natural, so of the spiritual life, which lead to eternal life.
Verse 24
[24] Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
Mouth — All sorts of sinful words.
Verse 25
[25] Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Right on — Direct all thine actions to a right end, and keep thy mind fixed upon that way which leads to it, and neither look or turn aside to the right-hand or the left.
Verse 26
[26] Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Ponder — Consider thine actions before thou dost them, and see that they agree with the rule.
And — Let thine actions be uniformly and constantly good in spite of all temptations.
Proverbs 4 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 1
[1] Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
A father — Of me, who have paternal authority over you and affection for you.
Verse 3
[3] For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
Tender — Young and tender in years, and tenderly educated.
Only beloved — Beloved above all the rest.
Verse 4
[4] He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
Said — The following verses, at least as far as the tenth verse, are the words of David.
Verse 7
[7] Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
With all — Even with the price of all.
Verse 8
[8] Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
Exalt — Let her have thine highest esteem and affection.
Verse 9
[9] She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
Grace — A beautiful ornament, such as they used to put upon their heads.
Verse 16
[16] For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
For — They cannot sleep with quietness.
Verse 17
[17] For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
For — Wickedness is as pleasant to them as their bread.
Verse 18
[18] But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
But — Just men daily grow in knowledge, and grace, and consolation, 'till all be perfected and swallowed up in glory.
Verse 19
[19] The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
Darkness — Full of ignorance and error, of uncertainty and confusion, of danger and misery.
Verse 23
[23] Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Heart — Thy thoughts, will, and affections.
For — From thence proceed all the actions, as of the natural, so of the spiritual life, which lead to eternal life.
Verse 24
[24] Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
Mouth — All sorts of sinful words.
Verse 25
[25] Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Right on — Direct all thine actions to a right end, and keep thy mind fixed upon that way which leads to it, and neither look or turn aside to the right-hand or the left.
Verse 26
[26] Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Ponder — Consider thine actions before thou dost them, and see that they agree with the rule.
And — Let thine actions be uniformly and constantly good in spite of all temptations.