4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a {a} father, and attend to know understanding.

(a) He speaks this as a preacher and minister which is as a father to the people, Pr 2:8.

4:4 He {b} taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

(b) Meaning, David his father.

4:7 {c} Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

(c) He shows that we must first begin with God's word, if we will that other things prosper with us, contrary to the judgment of the world, which make it their last study, or else care not for it at all.

4:11 I have {d} taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

(d) Solomon declares what care his father had to bring him up in the true fear of God: for this was David's protest.

4:12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be {e} straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

(e) You will walk at liberty without offence.

4:16 For they {f} sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause [some] to fall.

(f) Meaning that to do evil is more proper and natural to the wicked than to sleep, eat or drink.

4:17 For they eat the bread of {g} wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

(g) Gotten my wicked means and cruel oppression.

4:18 But the path of the just [is] as the shining light, that {h} shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

(h) Signifying that the godly increase daily in knowledge and perfection, till they come to full persecution, which is when the are joined to their head in the heavens.

4:22 For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their {i} flesh.

(i) That is, they will have health of body: under which all other blessings promised in the law are contained.

4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of {k} life.

(k) For as the heart is either pure or corrupt, so is the whole course of man's life.

4:26 {l} Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

(l) Keep a measure in all your doings.