Christianity

Proverbs 4Guard Your Heart

Summary

Proverbs 4 has the father recall how his own father taught him, passing the lesson down a third generation. Wisdom is the principal thing, so get it whatever it costs. He sets out two paths: the path of the just, which grows brighter like the dawn toward full day, and the way of the wicked, which is like deep darkness where people stumble without knowing why. The chapter ends with a call to guard the heart, speech, eyes and feet.

Key verse

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Proverbs 4:23

Themes

Inner Life
Generational Wisdom
Two Ways
Focus

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

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

Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

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

Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

Buddhism
Dhammapada 1 to 20: Mind Precedes All Things
The Dhammapada opens by teaching that the mind is the forerunner of all states, so actions done with an impure mind bring suffering and those done with a pure mind bring happiness. Proverbs 4:23 likewise places the source of life in the heart, though within a framework of devotion to God.
Christianity
Psalm 1: The Way of the Righteous
Psalm 1 contrasts the righteous person, like a tree planted by water, with the wicked, who are like chaff, and ends with the LORD knowing the way of the righteous, the same two-path teaching found in Proverbs 4:18 to 19.

Questions about Proverbs 4

What does keep thy heart with all diligence mean?

Proverbs 4:23 uses heart for the whole inner life of thought, will and desire. Because the issues of life flow from it, the verse urges vigilant care over what shapes one's inner self.

What is the path of the just in Proverbs 4:18?

It is pictured as dawn light that shines more and more unto the perfect day, suggesting that a righteous life grows clearer and brighter over time.