Proverbs 4:23-27

A Father's Wise Instruction

23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for o from it flow p the springs of life.
 24 Put away from you q crooked speech,
and put r devious talk far from you.
 25 s Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
 26 t Ponder 1 the path of your feet;
u then all your ways will be sure.
 27 v Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.

  1. Cross References
    Matthew 12:35
    The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.
  2. Cross References
    Psalms 16:11
    You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
  3. Cross References
    Proverbs 6:12
    A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech.
  4. Cross References
    Proverbs 2:15
    Men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.
  5. Cross References
    Hebrews 12:2
    Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
  6. Cross References
    Proverbs 5:6
    She does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.
    Proverbs 5:21
    For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths.
    Hebrews 12:13
    And make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
  7. Cross References
    Psalms 119:5
    Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
  8. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 5:32
    You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
    Deuteronomy 28:14
    And if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
    Joshua 1:7
    Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
    1 Kings 15:5
    Because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.