Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Parallel translations
- WEB Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
- BSB Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs 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 6:45A 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.
- Matt 12:34–35O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
- Mark 7:21–23For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
- Ps 139:23–24Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
- Prov 13:3He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
- Jer 17:9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
- Matt 15:19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
- Prov 23:19Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
- Prov 28:26He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
- Mark 14:38Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
- Jas 1:14–15But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
- Deut 4:9Only 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;
- Heb 12:15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
- Prov 4:7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
- Prov 3:21My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
- Prov 22:5Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
- Prov 11:16A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
- Eccl 5:13There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
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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.