Proverbs 4 · Verse 5

Proverbs 4:5

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Proverbs 4:5, King James Version

Proverbs 4:5 in other translations

BSBGet wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
WEBGet wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
ASVGet wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;
YLTGet wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
DARBYGet wisdom, get intelligence: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
BBEGet wisdom, get true knowledge; keep it in memory, do not be turned away from the words of my mouth.
WebsterGet wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

What does Proverbs 4:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. Get--as a possession not to be given up. neither decline--that is, from obeying my word.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Get wisdom - True religion is essential to thy happiness; never forget its teachings, nor go aside from the path it prescribes.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 4:1-13

We must look upon our teachers as our fathers: though instruction carry in it reproof and correction, bid it welcome. Solomon's parents loved him, therefore taught him. Wise and godly men, in every age of the world, and rank in society, agree that true wisdom consists in obedience, and is united to happiness. Get wisdom, take pains for it. Get the rule over thy corruptions; take more pains to get this than the…

Read the full comment on Proverbs 4:1-13 →

Proverbs 4:5 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

קְנֵ֣הke.NehacquireH7069
חָ֭כְמָהchokh.mahwisdomH2451
קְנֵ֣הke.NehacquireH7069
בִינָ֑הvi.NahunderstandingH998
אַל\־'al-may notH408
תִּשְׁכַּ֥חtish.Kachyou forgetH7911
וְאַל\־ve.'al-and may notH408
תֵּ֝֗טTetyou turn asideH5186
מֵֽאִמְרֵי\־me.'im.rei-from [the] utterances ofH561
פִֽי\׃Fimouth myH6310

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 4:5

  • James 1:5

    If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

  • Proverbs 3:13-18

    Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. …

  • Proverbs 1:22-23

    How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

  • 2 Chronicles 34:2

    And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

  • Psalms 44:18

    Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;

  • Proverbs 8:5

    O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

  • Proverbs 17:16

    Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

  • Job 23:11

    My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

  • Proverbs 19:8

    He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

  • Psalms 119:157

    Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.

  • Proverbs 2:2-4

    So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

  • Proverbs 16:16

    How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Get wisdom.
1:22,23; 2:2-4; 3:13-18; 8:5; 17:16; 18:1; 19:8; 23:23; Jas 1:5
neither.
2Ch 34:2; Job 23:11; Ps 44:18; 119:51,157

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 4:4

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

  • Proverbs 4:5

    Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

  • Proverbs 4:6

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

Read all of Proverbs 4

Proverbs 4:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Adquiere sabiduría, adquiere inteligencia; no te olvides ni te apartes de las razones de mi boca;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Acquiers la sagesse, acquiers l’intelligence; ne l’oublie pas, et ne te détourne pas des paroles de ma bouche.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Erwirb Weisheit, erwirb Verstand; vergiß nicht und weiche nicht ab von den Reden meines Mundes.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Posside sapientiam, posside prudentiam: ne obliviscaris, neque declines a verbis oris mei.