Proverbs 4:23
New International Version
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

New Living Translation
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

English Standard Version
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Berean Standard Bible
Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

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

New King James Version
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

New American Standard Bible
Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

NASB 1995
Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

NASB 1977
Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

Legacy Standard Bible
Guard your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

Amplified Bible
Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

Christian Standard Bible
Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.

American Standard Version
Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.

Contemporary English Version
Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it.

Good News Translation
Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.

International Standard Version
Above everything else guard your heart, because from it flow the springs of life.

Majority Standard Bible
Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

NET Bible
Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life.

New Heart English Bible
Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.

Webster's Bible Translation
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

World English Bible
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Above every charge keep your heart, "" For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.

Young's Literal Translation
Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it are the outgoings of life.

Smith's Literal Translation
Guard thy heart with all watching, for from it the goings forth of life.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
With all watchfulness keep thy heart, because life issueth out from it.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Preserve your heart with all watchfulness, for life proceeds from this.

New American Bible
With all vigilance guard your heart, for in it are the sources of life.

New Revised Standard Version
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Keep your heart with all caution because from it is the outgoing of life.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Above all that thou guardest keep thy heart; For out of it are the issues of life.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Keep thine heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Father's Instruction
22For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body. 23Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life. 24Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.…

Cross References
Matthew 12:34-35
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. / The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.

Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Jeremiah 17:9-10
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? / I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.

Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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

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.

Matthew 15:18-19
But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man. / For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.

Romans 12:2
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 1:14-15
But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. / Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

2 Corinthians 10:5
We demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Psalm 119:11
I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.

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

1 Peter 1:13
Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:6
The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace,

Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. / See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting.


Treasury of Scripture

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

keep

Proverbs 22:5
Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

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.

with all diligence

Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Proverbs 3:21
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

Proverbs 11:16
A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.

for

Matthew 12:35
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.

Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Mark 7:21-23
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, …

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Care Charge Diligence Flow Guard Guarded Heart Issues Life Outgoings Springs Watch Wellspring
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Care Charge Diligence Flow Guard Guarded Heart Issues Life Outgoings Springs Watch Wellspring
Proverbs 4
1. persuades to wisdom
14. and to show wickedness
20. He exhorts to sanctification














Above all else
This phrase emphasizes the supreme importance of the instruction that follows. In the Hebrew text, the word used is "mikkol," which means "from all" or "above all." It sets a priority, indicating that what is about to be said should be regarded as the utmost concern in one's life. In the context of Proverbs, a book filled with wisdom for living, this phrase underscores the necessity of prioritizing the heart's condition over all other pursuits or concerns.

guard your heart
The Hebrew word for "heart" is "lev," which in ancient Hebrew culture represented the center of one's being, encompassing mind, will, emotions, and understanding. To "guard" (Hebrew: "natsar") implies a vigilant, protective stance, akin to a watchman over a city. This suggests an active, ongoing responsibility to protect one's inner life from influences that could lead one astray. The heart is seen as the wellspring of life, and thus, its protection is crucial for maintaining spiritual and moral integrity.

for everything you do
This phrase highlights the comprehensive impact of the heart on one's life. The Hebrew text uses "kol," meaning "all" or "everything," to indicate that the heart influences every aspect of one's actions and decisions. This reflects the biblical understanding that the internal state of a person directly affects their external behavior. It is a reminder that the heart's condition is not isolated but interconnected with all facets of life.

flows from it
The imagery here is of a spring or fountain, with the Hebrew word "totsa'ot" suggesting "issues" or "outgoings." This metaphor illustrates the heart as the source from which life emanates, much like water flows from a spring. In ancient times, a spring was a vital source of life and sustenance, and similarly, the heart is depicted as the source of spiritual and moral vitality. This underscores the necessity of maintaining a pure and guarded heart to ensure that what flows from it is life-giving and aligned with God's wisdom.

(23) Keep thy heart with all diligence.--Rather, above all things that are to be guarded.

For out of it are the issues of life.--That is, from it comes life (and also death). From it proceed "all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works," signs of the life with God within the soul; or, "evil thoughts, murders," &c. (Matthew 15:19), "the end of which things is death" (Romans 6:21).

Verse 23 - Keep thy heart with all diligence; properly, above all things that have to be guarded, keep or guard thy heart. So Mercerus, Gescnius, Delitzsch, Zockler. This seems to be the right meaning of the phrase, mikkol-mish'mar, rendered in the Authorized Version "with all diligence," mish'mar, from shamar, "to guard," being the object of guarding; that which is to be guarded. It is as if the teacher said, "Guard riches, property, health, body, everything, in short, in which you have a legitimate interest, or which is advantageous; but before and above everything else, keep a guard on your heart." The rabbins Jarehi, Ben Ezra, Rashi, however, give a different rendering, "From everything which is to be avoided (ab omni re cavenda) guard thy heart;" but the objection to this is that it ignores the radical meaning of the verb shamar, from which mish'mar is derived, as stated above, which is not that of avoiding, but of guarding. A third rendering is," Keep thy heart with all keeping;" so the Vulgate, omni custodia serva cor tuum; and the LXX., πασὴ φυλακῇ τήρει σὴν καρδίαν; on which the Authorized Version seems to be based. Another rendering, similar to the first, except that it gives mish'mar the active signification of guarding instead of the passive one of being kept or guarded, is, "Keep thy heart more than any other keeping (prae omni custodia)." Origen, 'Hex.;' Field. Again, Aquila and Theodotion render, "Keep thy heart by reason of every commandment (ἀπὸ παντὸς φυλάγματος)," thus bringing into prominence the occasion and the obligation of keeping the heart, which is that we are so commanded. Heart (lev); here the affections and the moral consciousness. For out of it are the issues of life. The conjunction "for" introduces the reason. The fact here stated is that the moral conduct of life, its actions and proceedings, are determined by the condition of the heart. If the heart is pure, the life will be pure; if the heart is corrupt, the life will be corrupt. The heart is here compared with a fountain. The same idea which is affixed to it in its physical sense is also assigned to it in its ethical or moral sense. Physically, it is the central organ of the body; morally, it is the seat of the affections and the centre of the moral consciousness. From this moral centre flow forth "the issues of life;" i.e. the currents of the moral life take their rise in and flow forth from it, just as from the heart, physically considered, the blood is propelled and flows forth into the arterial system, by which it is conveyed to the remotest extremities of the body. And as the bodily health depends on the healthy action of the heart, so the moral health depends on and is influenced by the state in which this spring of all action is preserved. Issues; tots'aoth, from yatsar, "to go forth," are the place from which anything goes forth, and hence a fountain. For "the issues of life," the LXX. reads, ἔξοδοι ζωῆς, the Vulgate., exitus vitae. With this passage compare our Lord's teaching (Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:21-23; Luke 6:43-45).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Guard
נְצֹ֣ר (nə·ṣōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5341: To watch, guard, keep

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

with all
מִֽכָּל־ (mik·kāl)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

diligence,
מִ֭שְׁמָר (miš·mār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4929: Place of confinement, jail, prison, guard, watch, observance

for
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

from it
מִ֝מֶּ֗נּוּ (mim·men·nū)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

flow
תּוֹצְא֥וֹת (tō·wṣ·’ō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 8444: An outgoing, extremity, perhaps source, escape

springs of life.
חַיִּֽים׃ (ḥay·yîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life


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