Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your 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.
- 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.
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 out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.
- Matt 12:34–35You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
- Mark 7:21–23For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,
- Ps 139:23–24Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.
- Prov 13:3He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
- Jer 17:9The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt. Who can know it?
- Matt 15:19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.
- Prov 23:19Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
- Prov 28:26One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
- Mark 14:38Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
- Jas 1:14–15But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.
- Deut 4:9Only be careful, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes saw, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your children and your children’s children;
- Heb 12:15looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it;
- Prov 4:7Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
- Prov 3:21My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
- Prov 22:5Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.
- Prov 11:16A gracious woman obtains honor, but violent men obtain riches.
- Eccl 5:13There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.