Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 4:23
23Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.
Proverbs 4:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
- New International Version (NIV)Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
Context of Proverbs 4:23
21Don’t lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. 22For they are life to those who find them, and health to one’s whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. 24Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don’t let your lips talk deviously. 25Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
Read all of Proverbs 4Proverbs 4:23 word by word
מִֽכָּל־מִ֭שְׁמָר נְצֹ֣ר לִבֶּ֑ךָ כִּֽי־מִ֝מֶּ֗נּוּ תּוֹצְא֥וֹת חַיִּֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 4:23
- Proverbs 22:5There are thorns and snares on the way of the crooked; the one who guards himself stays far from them.
- Proverbs 23:19Listen, my son, and be wise; keep your mind on the right course.
- Proverbs 28:26The one who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.
- Deuteronomy 4:9“Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you don’t forget the things your eyes have seen and so that they don’t slip from your mind as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren.
- Psalms 139:23Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.
- Jeremiah 17:9The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable — who can understand it?
- Mark 14:38Stay awake and pray so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
- Hebrews 12:15Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.
- Proverbs 4:7Wisdom is supreme — so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding.
- Proverbs 3:21Maintain sound wisdom and discretion. My son, don’t lose sight of them.
- Proverbs 11:16A gracious woman gains honor, but violent people gain only riches.
- Proverbs 13:3The one who guards his mouth protects his life; the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
- Ecclesiastes 5:13There is a sickening tragedy I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.
- Matthew 12:35A good person produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil person produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.
- Matthew 15:19For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander.
- Mark 7:21For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders,
Commentaries on Proverbs 4:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Keep thy heart with all diligence - "Above all keeping," guard thy heart. He who knows any thing of himself, knows how apt his affections are to go astray. For out of it are the issues of life - חיים תוצאות totseoth chaiyim, "the goings out of lives." Is not this a plain allusion to the arteries which carry the blood from the heart through the whole body, and to the utmost extremities? As long as the heart is capable of receiving and propelling the blood…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Better, as in the margin, i. e., with more vigilance than men use over anything else. The words that follow carry on the same similitude. The fountains and wells of the East were watched over with special care. The heart is such a fountain, out of it flow the “issues” of life. Shall men let those streams be tainted at the fountain-head?Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-27Verses 14-27 The way of evil men may seem pleasant, and the nearest way to compass some end; but it is an evil way, and will end ill; if thou love thy God and thy soul, avoid it. It is not said, Keep at a due distance, but at a great distance; never think you can get far enough from it. The way of the righteous is light; Christ is their Way, and he is the Light. The saints will not be perfect till they reach heaven, but there they shall shine as the sun…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23In the Old Testament, the heart symbolizes the center of emotions, thoughts, and reasoning (for example, Genesis 6:5; Deuteronomy 4:29; Psalm 131:1). The heart plays a key role in the struggle between wisdom and foolishness, and between righteousness and evil (see Matthew 5:8; 13:15; John 12:40; Romans 6:17).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. with all diligence--or, "above," or "more than all," custody (compare Margin), all that is kept (compare Eze 38:7), because the heart is the depository of all wisdom and the source of whatever affects life and character (Mt 12:35; 15:19).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 4:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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