Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
Parallel translations
- WEB Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
- KJV Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
- NKJV Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
- NASB Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
- NLT Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Guard your heart diligently, for from it flows the wellspring of life. The heart's condition shapes the whole course of one's life.
Overview
This pivotal verse identifies the heart, the inner self of thought, will, and desire, as the wellspring from which life's choices and conduct issue. Therefore it must be guarded above all else. Jesus taught the same priority, that what defiles a person comes from the heart (Mark 7:21-23), and the gospel promises a renewed heart through the Spirit (Ezek 36:26).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Luke 6:45The 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.
- Matt 12:34–35You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.
- Mark 7:21–23For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
- Ps 139:23–24Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.
- Prov 13:3He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
- Jer 17:9The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
- Matt 15:19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.
- Prov 23:19Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.
- Prov 28:26He who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.
- Mark 14:38Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
- Jas 1:14–15But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.
- Deut 4:9Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen, and so that they do not slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and grandchildren.
- Heb 12:15See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.
- Prov 4:7Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
- Prov 3:21My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.
- Prov 22:5Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far from them.
- Prov 11:16A gracious woman attains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
- Eccl 5:13There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 4:23 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.