Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Parallel translations
- WEB Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, neither swerve from the words of my mouth.
- BSB Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
- NKJV Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
- NASB Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
- NLT Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Get wisdom and understanding; do not forget or turn from these words. Wisdom must be deliberately sought and firmly held.
Overview
The repeated imperative 'get wisdom' presents it as a treasure to be actively pursued and never abandoned. Wisdom does not come passively but is acquired through earnest seeking. This anticipates the gospel call to seek and find the wisdom of God in Christ (Matt 7:7; Col 2:3).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Jas 1:5If 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.
- Prov 3:13–18Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
- 2 Chr 34:2And 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.
- Prov 1:22–23How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
- Ps 44:18Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;
- Job 23:11My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
- Prov 17:16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
- Prov 8:5O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
- Prov 19:8He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
- Ps 119:51The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.
- Prov 2:2–4So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
- Ps 119:157Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.
- Prov 16:16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
- Prov 18:1Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
- Prov 23:23Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 4:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.