God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 4:23
23Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it.
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
21Do not lose sight of these things. Keep them deep within your heart 22because they are life to those who find them and they heal the whole body. Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it. 24Remove dishonesty from your mouth. Put deceptive speech far away from your lips. 25Let your eyes look straight ahead and your sight be focused in front of you.
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 22:5A devious person has thorns and traps ahead of him. Whoever guards himself will stay far away from them.
- Proverbs 23:19My son, listen, be wise, and keep your mind going in the right direction.
- Proverbs 28:26Whoever trusts his own heart is a fool. Whoever walks in wisdom will survive.
- Deuteronomy 4:9However, be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you don’t forget the things which you have seen with your own eyes. Don’t let them fade from your memory as long as you live. Teach them to your children and grandchildren.
- Psalms 139:23Examine me, O God, and know my mind. Test me, and know my thoughts.
- Jeremiah 17:9“The human mind is the most deceitful of all things. It is incurable. No one can understand how deceitful it is.
- Mark 14:38Stay awake, and pray that you won’t be tempted. You want to do what’s right, but you’re weak.”
- Hebrews 12:15Make sure that everyone has kindness from God so that bitterness doesn’t take root and grow up to cause trouble that corrupts many of you.
- Proverbs 4:7The beginning of wisdom is to acquire wisdom. Acquire understanding with all that you have.
- Proverbs 3:21My son, do not lose sight of these things. Use priceless wisdom and foresight.
- Proverbs 11:16A gracious woman wins respect, but ruthless men gain riches.
- Proverbs 13:3Whoever controls his mouth protects his own life. Whoever has a big mouth comes to ruin.
- Ecclesiastes 5:13There is a painful tragedy that I have seen under the sun: Riches lead to the downfall of those who hoard them.
- Matthew 12:35Good people do the good things that are in them. But evil people do the evil things that are in them.
- Matthew 15:19Evil thoughts, murder, adultery, ⌞other⌟ sexual sins, stealing, lying, and cursing come from within.
- Mark 7:21Evil thoughts, sexual sins, stealing, murder,
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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