Proverbs 4:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.

NIV: Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.

NASB: Do not abandon her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you.

CSB: Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you; love her, and she will guard you.

NLT: Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you.

KJV: Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

NKJV: Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you.

In this verse David's counsel to Solomon (Proverbs 4:3) takes the form of a figure of speech. He personifies wisdom as a woman (Proverbs 1:20–21; 3:15; 8:1–3) and instructs Solomon to stay by her side. He promises wisdom will protect him. He also promises "she" will guard Solomon if he loves "her." Those who live by godly principles are far less likely to suffer the consequences faced by those who participate in sin and depravity.

Christians should stay true to the wisdom God imparts in His Word. Although false teachers may appear as angels of light (2 Corinthians 11:13–14), their teachings are poisonous. The apostle Paul told the Corinthian believers that he was jealous for them and had betrothed them as a pure virgin to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2). However, he feared that their thoughts would be "led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3). He described the seducers as "false prophets, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:13).

Just as David instructed Solomon to keep and love wisdom, even so Paul instructed Timothy to "guard the deposit" entrusted to him and "avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called 'knowledge'" (1 Timothy 6:20).

Proverbs 4:1–9 looks back on Solomon's childhood and the wise instruction he received from his father David. He rehearses that instruction and passes it along to his young students. Echoing David, Solomon credits wisdom with the power to protect, honor, and grace the life of whoever acquires it. ''Wisdom,'' used in these passages, means the ability to act according to godly knowledge.

Common for the first nine chapters of Proverbs, Solomon urges his sons—possibly also other students—to listen to his words. He recalls his early years, when he heard some of these words from his father, David. Wisdom is upheld as the most beneficial thing a person can acquire in life. It brings honor and safety. In contrast, the wicked are perpetual wrongdoers whose goal is to lead others astray. They live for wickedness and violence, and they stumble in the darkness. Solomon urges his sons not to deviate from the path of godly wisdom, either ''to the right or to the left.''

The first nine chapters of the book of Proverbs focus on extolling the value of godly wisdom. In this chapter King Solomon continues to pass along this message to his son. His advice to his sons—possibly also meaning his students—in chapter 4 is similar to what he says in Proverbs 1:8–9; 2:1–6; 3:1–2, 21–26; 5:1–2; 6:20–22; 7:1–3, 24; and 8:22–36. The words of this chapter are partly taken from advice Solomon recalls hearing from his own father, David.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.