GET WISDOM AND GET UNDERSTANDING
Key verse: 7
NIV
Get Wisdom at Any Cost
4 Listen, my sons,(A) to a father’s instruction;(B)
pay attention and gain understanding.(C)
2 I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,
“Take hold(D) of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.(E)
5 Get wisdom,(F) get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;(G)
love her, and she will watch over you.(H)
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
Though it cost all(I) you have,[b] get understanding.(J)
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.(K)
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.(L)”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
- Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get
Cross references
- Proverbs 4:1 : S Pr 1:8
- Proverbs 4:1 : Pr 19:20
- Proverbs 4:1 : S Job 8:10
- Proverbs 4:4 : S 1Ki 9:4
- Proverbs 4:4 : Pr 7:2
- Proverbs 4:5 : S Pr 2:12; 3:13-18
- Proverbs 4:6 : 2Th 2:10
- Proverbs 4:6 : S Pr 2:11
- Proverbs 4:7 : Mt 13:44-46
- Proverbs 4:7 : Pr 23:23
- Proverbs 4:8 : S Pr 3:18
- Proverbs 4:9 : S Pr 1:8-9
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
A Father's Wise Instruction
4 (A)Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,
and be attentive, that you may (B)gain[a] insight,
2 for I give you good (C)precepts;
do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father,
(D)tender, (E)the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 he (F)taught me and said to me,
(G)“Let your heart hold fast my words;
(H)keep my commandments, and live.
5 (I)Get wisdom; get (J)insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
(K)love her, and she will guard you.
7 (L)The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get (M)insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will (N)honor you (O)if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head (P)a graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:1 Hebrew know
Cross references
- Proverbs 4:1 : ch. 1:8; [ch. 5:7; 7:24; 8:33; Ps. 34:11]
- Proverbs 4:1 : ch. 2:2
- Proverbs 4:2 : Job 11:4
- Proverbs 4:3 : See 1 Chr. 22:5
- Proverbs 4:3 : Zech. 12:10
- Proverbs 4:4 : 1 Chr. 28:9; [Eph. 6:4]
- Proverbs 4:4 : [ch. 3:1]
- Proverbs 4:4 : ch. 7:2; Lev. 18:5; Isa. 55:3
- Proverbs 4:5 : ch. 2:2
- Proverbs 4:5 : [See ver. 1 above]; ch. 2:2
- Proverbs 4:6 : [2 Thess. 2:10]
- Proverbs 4:7 : [ch. 1:7]
- Proverbs 4:7 : [See ver. 1 above]; ch. 2:2
- Proverbs 4:8 : 1 Sam. 2:30
- Proverbs 4:8 : [Song 2:6]
- Proverbs 4:9 : ch. 1:9
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
The writer (King Solomon) reminds the readers that he was a son of his father (King David). And his father taught him (3). And he wants to teach us the same topic.
“Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; … Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; … Get wisdom. Though it costs all you have, get understanding.” (4~9)
To seek and keep wisdom, we encounter risks from time to time. But this proverb encourages us to seek and keep wisdom though it costs all we have. Why? Because wisdom will exalt us, honor us, and present us with a glorious crown. It will be like treasure hidden in a field and a merchant looking to find pearls (Mt 13:44, 45).
Prayer: Father, thank you for your teachings that bless my life. Help me to get wisdom and insight above all things.
One Word: Above all, get wisdom and insight
