Proverbs 4:20 (DRB)

Passage

My son, hearken to my words, and incline thy ear to my sayings.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just, as a shining light, goeth forwards, and increaseth even to perfect day.

Proverbs 4:19 The way of the wicked is darksome: they know not where they fall.

Proverbs 4:20 My son, hearken to my words, and incline thy ear to my sayings.

Proverbs 4:21 Let them not depart from thy eyes, keep them in the midst of thy heart:

Proverbs 4:22 For they are life to those that find them, and health to all flesh.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "hearken", "words", "incline", and "sayings". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "hearken" and "words", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "The way of the wicked is darksome..." into verse 21's "Let them not depart from thy eyes...", so "hearken" and "words" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "hearken" and "words" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.