Proverbs 4:1 says, Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.  Though this is addressed to the children of Solomon, we need to view it as being addressed to the followers of Christ, by the heavenly Father.  We are His children when we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, and we certainly need to listen, to truly hear, what our heavenly Father has to say to us.  Verse two states, For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.  Any good doctrine that Solomon could give was based on the knowledge of God and obedience to God's will.  It is God's law that we must follow.  Verse three says, For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.  Just as David taught Solomon about God, we are to teach our children.  Still, David could not make Solomon right with God, just as we cannot make our children right with God.  We can only point them to Christ, and then they must make their own choice about God.  Verse four states, He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.  David called on Solomon to keep the commandments of God and live.  We are called on to accept Christ as our Savior, and then to live with Him as our Lord.  This is the only way to truly live.  Verse five declares, Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.  The only way to get wisdom is by accepting God's teachings, beginning with salvation through Christ.  If we do not accept this gift of grace, the we will never gain wisdom, no matter how educated we may become.  Verse six says, Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.  This is still referring to the wisdom of God.  If we do not forsake God's wisdom, it will preserve and keep us spiritually safe.  Verse seven states, Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.  Wisdom, which comes from God, is the principal behind all understanding of how the world works.  Without God's wisdom, we cannot have an understanding of the spiritual nature of life.  Verse eight continues, Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.  We are to lift up the wisdom of God.  When we live by the wisdom of God, it will bring honor to us.  Verse nine adds, She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.  Solomon spent quite a bit of time extolling the need to gain wisdom, which once again I believe can only come from God and leads us to a better understanding of God.  We should realize the importance of gaining the wisdom of God.  Verse ten says, Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.  Once more, hearing God's word alone is not enough.  We must receive, or believe, it for it to be of any value to us.  When we accept Christ as Savior and Lord, which can only come through the wisdom of God, we gain everlasting life with God.  Verse eleven states, I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. Just as Solomon said he had taught his son the way of wisdom, even more so does the heavenly Father teaching His children the way of wisdom.  God will always lead us down the right path.  Verse twelve says, When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.  The wisdom of God will not only lead us down the straight path of righteousness, but by faith in that wisdom we will be strengthened for our journey.  We cannot only walk, but we can run without stumbling.  Verse thirteen declares, Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.  We must never let go of the wisdom and guidance of God.  There should never be a reason to doubt God's instruction.