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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

27Do 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 4:9Classic cross-references Proverbs 5:1Classic cross-references Isaiah 55:3Classic cross-references Proverbs 6:20Classic cross-references Proverbs 7:1Classic cross-references

Original words

My sonבְּ֭נִיH1121Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularpay attentionהַקְשִׁ֑יבָהH7181Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularto my wordsלִדְבָרַ֣יH1697Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singularinclineהַט־H5186Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularyour earאָזְנֶֽךָ׃H241Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularto my sayingsלַ֝אֲמָרַ֗יH561Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular

Verse 21

Cross-references

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

Original words

Do notאַל־H408Adverbloseיַלִּ֥יזוּH3868Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralsight of themמֵעֵינֶ֑יךָH5869Preposition-m | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singularkeep themשָׁ֝מְרֵ֗םH8104Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine pluralwithinבְּת֣וֹךְH8432Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructyour heartלְבָבֶֽךָ׃H3824Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular

Verse 22

Cross-references

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

Original words

Forכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctiontheyהֵ֭םH1992Pronoun - third person masculine pluralare lifeחַיִּ֣יםH2416Noun - masculine pluralto those who find themלְמֹצְאֵיהֶ֑םH4672Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluraland healthמַרְפֵּֽא׃H4832Noun - masculine singularto the wholeוּֽלְכָל־H3605Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructbodyבְּשָׂר֥וֹH1320Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular

Verse 23

Cross-references

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

Original words

Guardנְצֹ֣רH5341Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularyour heartלִבֶּ֑ךָH3820Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularwith allמִֽכָּל־H3605Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructdiligenceמִ֭שְׁמָרH4929Noun - masculine singularforכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionfrom itמִ֝מֶּ֗נּוּH4480Preposition | third person masculine singularflowתּוֹצְא֥וֹתH8444Noun - feminine plural constructsprings of lifeחַיִּֽים׃H2416Noun - masculine plural

Verse 24

Cross-references

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

Original words

Putהָסֵ֣רH5493Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularawayמִ֭מְּךָH4480Preposition | second person masculine singulardeceptionעִקְּשׁ֣וּתH6143Noun - feminine singular constructfrom your mouthפֶּ֑הH6310Noun - masculine singularkeepהַרְחֵ֥קH7368Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular. . .מִמֶּֽךָּ׃H4480Preposition | second person masculine singularyour lipsשְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִםH8193Noun - fdfrom perverse speechוּלְז֥וּתH3891Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct

Verse 25

Cross-references

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

Original words

Let your eyesעֵ֭ינֶיךָH5869Noun - cdc | second person masculine singularlookיַבִּ֑יטוּH5027Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralforwardלְנֹ֣כַחH5227Preposition-lfix your gazeוְ֝עַפְעַפֶּ֗יךָH6079Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine dual construct | second person masculine singularstraightיַיְשִׁ֥רוּH3474Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralaheadנֶגְדֶּֽךָ׃H5048Preposition | second person masculine singular

Verse 26

Cross-references

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

Original words

Make a levelפַּ֭לֵּסH6424Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singularpathמַעְגַּ֣לH4570Noun - masculine singular constructfor your feetרַגְלֶ֑ךָH7272Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularand allוְֽכָל־H3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructyour waysדְּרָכֶ֥יךָH1870Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singularwill be sureיִכֹּֽנוּ׃H3559Verb - 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 30:21Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 5:32Classic cross-references Joshua 1:7Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 28:14Classic cross-references Proverbs 16:17Classic cross-references

Original words

Do notאַֽל־H408Adverbswerveתֵּט־H5186Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singularto the rightיָמִ֥יןH3225Noun - feminine singularor to the leftוּשְׂמֹ֑אולH8040Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularturnהָסֵ֖רH5493Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularyour feet {away}רַגְלְךָ֣H7272Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularfrom evilמֵרָֽע׃H7451Preposition | Adjective - masculine singular

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