Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.

Bible > Proverbs > Chapter 23 > Verse 26

◄ Proverbs 23:26 ►

New International Version
My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,

New Living Translation
O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.

English Standard Version
My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

Berean Standard Bible
My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.

King James Bible
My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

New King James Version
My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways.

New American Standard Bible
Give me your heart, my son, And let your eyes delight in my ways.

NASB 1995
Give me your heart, my son, And let your eyes delight in my ways.

NASB 1977
Give me your heart, my son, And let your eyes delight in my ways.

Legacy Standard Bible
Give your heart to me, my son, And let your eyes delight in my ways.

Amplified Bible
My son, give me your heart And let your eyes delight in my ways,

Christian Standard Bible
My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

American Standard Version
My son, give me thy heart; And let thine eyes delight in my ways.

Contemporary English Version
My son, pay close attention, and gladly follow my example.

English Revised Version
My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes delight in my ways.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
My son, give me your heart. Let your eyes find happiness in my ways.

Good News Translation
Pay close attention, son, and let my life be your example.

International Standard Version
Give me your heart, my son, and keep your eyes fixed on my ways,

Majority Standard Bible
My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.

NET Bible
Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes observe my ways;

New Heart English Bible
My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.

Webster's Bible Translation
My son, give me thy heart, and let thy eyes observe my ways.

World English Bible
My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
Give, my son, your heart to me, "" And let your eyes watch my ways.

Young's Literal Translation
Give, my son, thy heart to me, And let thine eyes watch my ways.

Smith's Literal Translation
My son, thou shalt give thy heart to me, and thine eyes shall delight in my way.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
My son, give me thy heart: and let thy eyes keep my ways.

Catholic Public Domain Version
My son, offer me your heart, and let your eyes keep to my ways.

New American Bible
My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes keep to my ways,

New Revised Standard Version
My child, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
My son. give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Give me your heart, my son, and your eyes will keep my ways.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
My son, give me thy heart, And let thine eyes observe my ways.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

True Riches
…25May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice! 26My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways. 27For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Matthew 22:37
Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

Deuteronomy 6:5
And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Psalm 119:10
With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments.

Luke 10:27
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Mark 12:30
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Jeremiah 24:7
I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD. They will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with all their heart.

Ezekiel 36:26
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Romans 12:1-2
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. / Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

James 4:8
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

1 John 2:15
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

2 Corinthians 6:16
What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Hebrews 10:22
let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

1 Peter 1:22
Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.

Treasury of Scripture

My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

my son

Proverbs 23:15
My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.

give

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

Deuteronomy 6:5
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Matthew 10:37,38
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me…

let

Proverbs 4:25-27
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee…

Psalm 107:43
Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

Psalm 119:2,9-11
Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart…

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Proverbs 23

1. Consider carefully what is before you

Berean Study Bible

My son
This phrase is a tender and intimate address, often used in the wisdom literature of the Bible, particularly in Proverbs. It reflects the relationship between a father and his child, symbolizing not only a biological connection but also a spiritual and instructional bond. In Hebrew, "ben" (בֵּן) is used, which can mean son, grandson, or even a member of a group. This term emphasizes the importance of the familial and covenantal relationship that God desires with His people, akin to a father guiding his child in the ways of wisdom and righteousness.

give me your heart
The heart, or "lev" (לֵב) in Hebrew, is considered the center of one's being in biblical thought. It encompasses not just emotions but also the mind, will, and inner life. To "give your heart" is to offer one's entire self, including thoughts, desires, and decisions, to God. This phrase calls for a complete and sincere devotion, urging believers to prioritize their relationship with God above all else. It is a call to surrender and trust, recognizing that true wisdom and life are found in aligning one's heart with God's will.

and let your eyes delight
The eyes are often seen as the windows to the soul, and in biblical literature, they represent perception, focus, and desire. The Hebrew word "ayin" (עַיִן) is used for eyes, and it signifies not just physical sight but also spiritual insight and understanding. To let one's eyes "delight" suggests finding joy and satisfaction in what one sees and perceives. This phrase encourages believers to focus their attention and desires on what is good, pure, and aligned with God's truth, finding joy in His guidance and commandments.

in my ways
The "ways" refer to the paths or courses of life that are in accordance with God's wisdom and commandments. The Hebrew word "derek" (דֶּרֶךְ) is used, which means way, road, or journey. This term implies a manner of living that is consistent with God's character and purposes. The call to delight in God's ways is an invitation to walk in obedience and righteousness, finding fulfillment and purpose in living according to His divine plan. It is a reminder that God's ways are higher and lead to life, peace, and blessing.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(26) My son, give me thine heart.--For that is the one gift alone worthy of acceptance which man can offer to God, and the only one which God will accept; an offering which man endeavours to keep for himself, substituting for it alms, unreal prayers, outward observances of religion, and obedience in matters of little moment. (Comp. Matthew 22:37.)

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 26-28. - A hexastich, in which Wisdom herself is the speaker, and warns against unchastity. Verse 26. - Give me thine heart. Do not waste thy powers and affections on evil objects, but set thy soul with all its best faculties on me, Wisdom, who alone can satisfy its desires and aspirations. There is an eloquent passage in a tract that has gone by St. Bernard's name, though not written by him ('Epist. de Reg. Vitae Spirit.,' 2:1604, Mab.), which is worth quoting: "Cor nostrum nihil dignius perficere potest, quam ut ei se restituat a quo factum est: et hoc a nobis Dominus expetit dicens, 'Fili, da mihi cor tuum.' Tunc siquidem cor hominum Deo datur, quando omnia cogitatio terminatur in eum, gyrat et circumflectitur super eum, et nihil vult possidere praeter eum. Sicque colligato sibi animo, eum diligit, ut sine ipso amarus sit omnis amor. Nec aliud dixerim cor Domino dare, quam ipsum captivare in omni obsequium ejus, et ita voluntati ejus ex toto supponere, ut nihil aliud velit, quam quod noverit eum velle." Let thine eyes observe my ways; keep closely to the paths of virtue which I teach thee, especially the path of purity, as the next verse shows. Vulgate, Vias meas custodiant; Septuagint, Ἐμὰς ὁδοὺς πήρειτωσαν. This is the reading of the Keri, תִּלֺצרְנָה; the Khetib, which Delitzsch and others prefer, reads תִּרְצֶנָה, "delight in" my ways.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

My son,
בְנִ֣י (ḇə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

give
תְּנָֽה־ (tə·nāh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

me your heart,
לִבְּךָ֣ (lib·bə·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

and let your eyes
וְ֝עֵינֶ֗יךָ (wə·‘ê·ne·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

delight
תִּצֹּֽרְנָה׃‪‬ (tiṣ·ṣō·rə·nāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 7521: To be pleased with, to satisfy a, debt

in my ways.
דְּרָכַ֥י (də·rā·ḵay)
Noun - common plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

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OT Poetry: Proverbs 23:26 My son give me your heart (Prov. Pro Pr)