Meaning, commentary and cross references
Proverbs 4:23
“Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
NIV · New International Version
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
WEB · World English Bible
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
What does Proverbs 4:23 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Proverbs 4:23
Keep thy heart with all diligence,.... The mind from vanity, the understanding from error, the will from perverseness, the conscience clear of guilt, the affections from being inordinate and set on evil objects, the thoughts from being employed on bad subjects; and the whole from falling into the hands of the enemy, or being the possession of Satan: great diligence had need be used in keeping it, since it is naturally so deceitful and treacherous; a strict eye is to be kept upon it; all the avenues to it to be watched, that nothing hurtful enters, or evil comes out; it is to be kept by all manner of means that can be thought of, by prayer, hearing, reading, meditation; and, above all, by…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Proverbs 4:20–27
A great duty required by the laws of wisdom, and in order to our getting and preserving wisdom: Keep thy heart with all diligence. God, who gave us these souls, gave us a strict charge with them: Man, woman, keep thy heart; take heed to thy spirit, Deu 4:9. We must maintain a holy jealousy of ourselves, and set a strict guard, accordingly, upon all the avenues of the soul; keep our hearts from doing hurt and getting hurt, from being defiled by sin and disturbed by trouble; keep them as our jewel, as our vineyard; keep a conscience void of offence; keep out bad thoughts; keep up good thoughts; keep the affections upon right objects and in due bounds. Keep them with all keepings (so the word…
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Proverbs 4:20–26 (WEB)
20My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings. 21Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart. 22For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body. 23Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life. 24Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you. 25Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you. 26Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
Cross references
- Luke 6:45
The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.
- Matthew 12:34–35
You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
- Mark 7:21–23
For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,
- Psalms 139:23–24
- Proverbs 13:3
He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
- Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and it is exceedingly corrupt. Who can know it?
- Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.
- Proverbs 23:19
Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!