Proverbs 4 · Verse 23

Proverbs 4:23

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23, King James Version

Proverbs 4:23 in other translations

BSBGuard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
WEBKeep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
ASVKeep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.
YLTAbove every charge keep thy heart, For out of it are the outgoings of life.
DARBYKeep thy heart more than anything that is guarded; for out of it are the issues of life.
BBEAnd keep watch over your heart with all care; so you will have life.
WebsterKeep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

What does Proverbs 4:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
23. 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).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 Keep 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 - תוצאות חיים 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, so long life is continued. Now as the heart is the fountain whence all the streams of life proceed, care must be taken that the fountain be not stopped up nor injured. A double watch for its safety must be kept up. So in spiritual things: the heart is the seat of the Lord of life and glory; and the streams of spiritual life proceed from him to all the powers and faculties of the soul. Watch with all diligence, that this fountain be not sealed up, nor these streams of life be cut off. Therefore "put away from thee a froward mouth and perverse lips - and let thy eyes look straight on." Or, in other words, look inwardlook onward - look upward. I know that the twenty-third verse is understood as principally referring to the evils which proceed from the heart, and which must be guarded against; and the good purposes that must be formed in it, from which life takes its colouring. The former should be opposed; the latter should be encouraged and strengthened. If the heart be pure and holy, all its purposes will be just and good. If it be impure and defiled, nothing will proceed from it but abomination. But though all this be true, I have preferred following what I believe to be the metaphor in the text.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 4:14-27

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…

Read the full comment on Proverbs 4:14-27 →

Proverbs 4:23 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.

מִֽכָּל\־mi.kolmore than allH3605
מִ֭שְׁמָרMish.morguardingH4929
נְצֹ֣רne.TzorguardH5341
לִבֶּ֑ךָli.Be.khaheart yourH3820
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
מִ֝מֶּ֗נּוּmi.Me.nu[are] from itH4480
תּוֹצְא֥וֹתtotz.'ot[the] sources ofH8444
חַיִּֽים\׃chai.YimlifeH2416

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

Cross references for Proverbs 4:23

  • Luke 6:45

    A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

  • Matthew 12:34-35

    O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

  • Mark 7:21-23

    For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

  • Psalms 139:23-24

    Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

  • Proverbs 13:3

    He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

  • Jeremiah 17:9

    The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

  • Matthew 15:19

    For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

  • Proverbs 23:19

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

  • Proverbs 28:26

    He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

  • Mark 14:38

    Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

  • James 1:14-15

    But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

  • Deuteronomy 4:9

    Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Keep.
22:5; 23:19; 28:26; De 4:9; Ps 139:23,24; Jer 17:9; Mr 14:38
Heb 12:15
with all diligence. Heb. above all keeping.
7; 3:21; 11:16; 13:3; Ec 5:13
for.
Mt 12:35; 15:19; Mr 7:21-23; Jas 1:14,15

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

Context

  • Proverbs 4:22

    For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

  • Proverbs 4:23

    Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

  • Proverbs 4:24

    Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

Read all of Proverbs 4

Proverbs 4:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Sobre toda cosa guardada guarda tu corazón; porque de él mana la vida.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Garde ton cœur plus que tout ce que l’on garde, car de lui sont les issues de la vie.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Behüte dein Herz mehr als alles, was zu bewahren ist; denn von ihm aus sind die Ausgänge des Lebens. -
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Omni custodia serva cor tuum, quia ex ipso vita procedit.