Proverbs 4 · a question people ask
"For I was a son to my father" (4:3). Who is this father, and who was his father?
The chapter doesn't say. The father speaks as I (4:2-4, 4:11), and he names no one: not himself, not his father, not his mother (4:3). The book's first heading is "The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel" (1:1), and chapter 4 adds nothing to it. The Hebrew text has no quotation marks, so it doesn't mark where his father's words end. The WEB opens them after "He taught me, and said to me" (4:4) and closes them at the end of 4:9, and 4:10 begins again, "Listen, my son" (4:10). These notes don't name the father or his father, and don't decide where his father's words end.
The verses
“for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law. For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother. He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.”
“She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.” Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.”
“The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:”