Proverbs 23 · Verse 19

Proverbs 23:19

Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

Proverbs 23:19, King James Version

Proverbs 23:19 in other translations

BSB	Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.
WEB	Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
ASV	Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And guide thy heart in the way.
YLT	Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And make happy in the way thy heart,
DARBY	Thou, my son, hear and be wise, and direct thy heart in the way.
BBE	Give ear, my son, and be wise, guiding your heart in the right way.
Webster	Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thy heart in the way.

What does Proverbs 23:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 23:19-21

19-21. guide ... way--or direct thy thoughts to a right course of conduct (compare Pr 4:4; 9:6).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 23:19-28

The gracious Saviour who purchased pardon and peace for his people, with all the affection of a tender parent, counsels us to hear and be wise, and is ready to guide our hearts in his way. Here we have an earnest call to young people, to attend to the advice of their godly parents. If the heart be guided, the steps will be guided. Buy the truth, and sell it not; be willing to part with any thing for it. Do not part with it for pleasures, honours, riches, or any thing in this world. The heart is what the great God requires. We must not think to divide the heart between God and the world; he will have all or none. Look to the rule of God's word, the conduct of his providence, and the good examples of his people. Particular cautions are given against sins most destructive to wisdom and grace in the soul. It is really a shame to make a god of the belly. Drunkenness stupifies men, and then all goes to ruin. Licentiousness takes away the heart that should be given to God. Take heed of any approaches toward this sin, it is very hard to retreat from it. It bewitches men to their ruin.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 23:19 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

שְׁמַע\־she.ma'-listenH8085

אַתָּ֣ה'a.TahO youH859

בְנִ֣יve.Nison myH1121

וַחֲכָ֑םva.cha.Khamand be wiseH2449

וְאַשֵּׁ֖רve.'a.Sherand guideH833

בַּדֶּ֣רֶךְba.De.rekhin the wayH1870

לִבֶּֽךָ\׃li.Be.khaheart yourH3820

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 23:19

Proverbs 23:26
My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
Proverbs 23:12
Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
Proverbs 4:10-23
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. …
Proverbs 6:6
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
Proverbs 9:6
Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

and guide.
12,26; 4:10-23
in the way.That is "in the right way."

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Proverbs 23:18
For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
Proverbs 23:19
Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
Proverbs 23:20
Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:

Read all of Proverbs 23

Proverbs 23:19 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Oye tú, hijo mío, y sé sabio, y endereza tu corazón al camino.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Toi, mon fils, écoute et sois sage, et dirige ton cœur dans le chemin.
German Elberfelder 1871	Höre du, mein Sohn, und werde weise, und leite dein Herz geradeaus auf dem Wege.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Audi, fili mi, et esto sapiens, et dirige in via animum tuum.