Focused Passage

Proverbs 4:20-27

Guard the Heart: Fatherly Instruction, the Path of Wisdom, and the Refusal of Wickedness

The chapter moves from listening to fatherly instruction, to receiving wisdom across generations, to choosing the righteous path over the wicked way, to guarding the heart so that the whole life remains directed in wisdom.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

20 My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.

21 Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.

22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.

23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

24 Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.

25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.

26 Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.

27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 20

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 4:9 Classic cross-references Proverbs 5:1 Classic cross-references Isaiah 55:3 Classic cross-references Proverbs 6:20 Classic cross-references Proverbs 7:1 Classic cross-references

Original words

My son בְּ֭נִי H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular pay attention הַקְשִׁ֑יבָה H7181 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular to my words לִדְבָרַ֣י H1697 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular incline הַט־ H5186 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular your ear אָזְנֶֽךָ׃ H241 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular to my sayings לַ֝אֲמָרַ֗י H561 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular

Verse 21

Cross-references

Proverbs 3:21 Classic cross-references Proverbs 3:3 Classic cross-references Proverbs 7:1 Classic cross-references Proverbs 4:6 Classic cross-references Psalms 40:8 Classic cross-references

Original words

Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb lose יַלִּ֥יזוּ H3868 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural sight of them מֵעֵינֶ֑יךָ H5869 Preposition-m | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular keep them שָׁ֝מְרֵ֗ם H8104 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine plural within בְּת֣וֹךְ H8432 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct your heart לְבָבֶֽךָ׃ H3824 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular

Verse 22

Cross-references

Proverbs 3:8 Classic cross-references Proverbs 12:18 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 33:6 Classic cross-references Proverbs 4:10 Classic cross-references Proverbs 16:24 Classic cross-references

Original words

For כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction they הֵ֭ם H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural are life חַיִּ֣ים H2416 Noun - masculine plural to those who find them לְמֹצְאֵיהֶ֑ם H4672 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural and health מַרְפֵּֽא׃ H4832 Noun - masculine singular to the whole וּֽלְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct body בְּשָׂר֥וֹ H1320 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular

Verse 23

Cross-references

Luke 6:45 Classic cross-references Matthew 12:34 Classic cross-references Mark 7:21 Classic cross-references Psalms 139:23 Classic cross-references Proverbs 13:3 Classic cross-references

Original words

Guard נְצֹ֣ר H5341 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular your heart לִבֶּ֑ךָ H3820 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular with all מִֽכָּל־ H3605 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct diligence מִ֭שְׁמָר H4929 Noun - masculine singular for כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction from it מִ֝מֶּ֗נּוּ H4480 Preposition | third person masculine singular flow תּוֹצְא֥וֹת H8444 Noun - feminine plural construct springs of life חַיִּֽים׃ H2416 Noun - masculine plural

Verse 24

Cross-references

Proverbs 8:13 Classic cross-references James 1:26 Classic cross-references Proverbs 8:8 Classic cross-references Ephesians 4:25 Classic cross-references Proverbs 6:12 Classic cross-references

Original words

Put הָסֵ֣ר H5493 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular away מִ֭מְּךָ H4480 Preposition | second person masculine singular deception עִקְּשׁ֣וּת H6143 Noun - feminine singular construct from your mouth פֶּ֑ה H6310 Noun - masculine singular keep הַרְחֵ֥ק H7368 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular . . . מִמֶּֽךָּ׃ H4480 Preposition | second person masculine singular your lips שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם H8193 Noun - fd from perverse speech וּלְז֥וּת H3891 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct

Verse 25

Cross-references

Psalms 119:37 Classic cross-references Job 31:1 Classic cross-references Matthew 6:22 Classic cross-references Proverbs 23:26 Classic cross-references Psalms 5:8 Classic cross-references

Original words

Let your eyes עֵ֭ינֶיךָ H5869 Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular look יַבִּ֑יטוּ H5027 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural forward לְנֹ֣כַח H5227 Preposition-l fix your gaze וְ֝עַפְעַפֶּ֗יךָ H6079 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine dual construct | second person masculine singular straight יַיְשִׁ֥רוּ H3474 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural ahead נֶגְדֶּֽךָ׃ H5048 Preposition | second person masculine singular

Verse 26

Cross-references

Psalms 37:23 Classic cross-references Hebrews 12:13 Classic cross-references Matthew 7:14 Classic cross-references Psalms 119:5 Classic cross-references 2 Thessalonians 3:3 Classic cross-references

Original words

Make a level פַּ֭לֵּס H6424 Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular path מַעְגַּ֣ל H4570 Noun - masculine singular construct for your feet רַגְלֶ֑ךָ H7272 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular and all וְֽכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct your ways דְּרָכֶ֥יךָ H1870 Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular will be sure יִכֹּֽנוּ׃ H3559 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural

BSB notes

Or Ponder the path for your feet; LXX Make straight paths for your feet; cited in Hebrews 12:13

Verse 27

Cross-references

Isaiah 30:21 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 5:32 Classic cross-references Joshua 1:7 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 28:14 Classic cross-references Proverbs 16:17 Classic cross-references

Original words

Do not אַֽל־ H408 Adverb swerve תֵּט־ H5186 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular to the right יָמִ֥ין H3225 Noun - feminine singular or to the left וּשְׂמֹ֑אול H8040 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular turn הָסֵ֖ר H5493 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular your feet {away} רַגְלְךָ֣ H7272 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular from evil מֵרָֽע׃ H7451 Preposition | Adjective - masculine singular

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