Tree of Life Version
Proverbs 4:23
23Guard your heart diligently, for from it flow the springs 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 out of your sight, keep them within your heart. 22For they are life to those who find them and health to their whole body. Guard your heart diligently, for from it flow the springs of life. 24Put away perversity from your mouth, and keep devious lips far from you. 25Let your eyes look directly ahead, and fix your gaze straight 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 22:5Thorns and snares are in the path of the perverse, but one who guards his soul stays far from them.
- Proverbs 23:19Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart in the right way.
- Proverbs 28:26Whoever trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will escape.
- Deuteronomy 4:9“Only be watchful and watch over your soul closely, so you do not forget the things your eyes have seen and they slip from your heart all the days of your life. You are to make them known to your children and your children’s children.
- Psalms 139:23Search me, O God, and know my heart. Examine me, and know my anxious thoughts,
- Jeremiah 17:9“The heart is deceitful above all things, and incurable—who can know it?
- Mark 14:38Keep watching and praying, so that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
- Hebrews 12:15See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God; and see to it that no bitter root springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.
- Proverbs 4:7Wisdom is supreme—acquire wisdom! With all your acquisitions, get understanding.
- Proverbs 3:21My son, hold on to sound wisdom and discernment, do not let them out of your sight.
- Proverbs 11:16A gracious woman gains honor, but ruthless men seize riches.
- Proverbs 13:3He who watches his mouth protects his life, but whoever opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
- Ecclesiastes 5:13or wealth lost in a bad investment, and when he fathers a son, there is nothing in his hand.
- Matthew 12:35The good man from his good treasury brings forth good, and the evil man from his evil treasury brings forth evil.
- Matthew 15:19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, and slander.
- Mark 7:21For from within, out of the heart of men, come evil intentions, 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
Tree of Life Version — © 2015 The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
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