New English Translation
Proverbs 4:23
23Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources 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
21Do not let them depart from your sight, guard them within your heart; 22for they are life to those who find them and healing to one’s entire body. Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life. 24Remove perverse speech from your mouth; keep devious talk far from your lips. 25Let your eyes look directly in front of you and let your gaze look straight before 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 22:5Thorns and snares are in the path of the perverse, but the one who guards himself keeps far from them.
- Proverbs 23:19Listen, my child, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right way.
- Proverbs 28:26The one who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but the one who walks in wisdom will escape.
- Deuteronomy 4:9Again, however, pay very careful attention, lest you forget the things you have seen and disregard them for the rest of your life; instead teach them to your children and grandchildren.
- Psalms 139:23Examine me, and probe my thoughts! Test me, and know my concerns!
- Jeremiah 17:9The human mind is more deceitful than anything else. It is incurably bad. Who can understand it?
- Mark 14:38Stay awake and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
- Hebrews 12:15See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled.
- Proverbs 4:7Wisdom is supreme – so acquire wisdom, and whatever you acquire, acquire understanding!
- Proverbs 3:21My child, do not let them escape from your sight; safeguard sound wisdom and discretion.
- Proverbs 11:16A generous woman gains honor, and ruthless men seize wealth.
- Proverbs 13:3The one who guards his words guards his life, but whoever is talkative will come to ruin.
- Ecclesiastes 5:13Here is a misfortune on earth that I have seen: Wealth hoarded by its owner to his own misery.
- Matthew 12:35The good person brings good things out of his good treasury, and the evil person brings evil things out of his evil treasury.
- Matthew 15:19For out of the heart come evil ideas, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
- Mark 7:21For from within, out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, 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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
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