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Proverbs 4:20-23
New International Version
Proverbs 4:20-23
New International Version
Proverbs 4:20-23
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 4:20-23
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Straight Path
20 My son, pay attention to my words;
listen closely to my sayings.(A)
21 Don’t lose sight of them;(B)
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else,[a]
for it is the source of life.(C)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:23 Or heart with all diligence
Proverbs 4:20-23
Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 4:20-23
Christian Standard Bible
The Straight Path
20 My son, pay attention to my words;
listen closely to my sayings.(A)
21 Don’t lose sight of them;(B)
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else,[a]
for it is the source of life.(C)
Footnotes
- 4:23 Or heart with all diligence
Proverbs 4:20-27
The Message
Proverbs 4:20-27
The Message
Learn It by Heart
20-22 Dear friend, listen well to my words;
tune your ears to my voice.
Keep my message in plain view at all times.
Concentrate! Learn it by heart!
Those who discover these words live, really live;
body and soul, they’re bursting with health.
23-27 Keep vigilant watch over your heart;
that’s where life starts.
Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth;
avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
Keep your eyes straight ahead;
ignore all sideshow distractions.
Watch your step,
and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
Look neither right nor left;
leave evil in the dust.
Proverbs 4:20-27
New International Version
Proverbs 4:20-27
New International Version
20 My son,(A) pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.(B)
21 Do not let them out of your sight,(C)
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.(D)
23 Above all else, guard(E) your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.(F)
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes(G) look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[a] paths for your feet(H)
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;(I)
keep your foot from evil.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:26 Or Make level
Proverbs 4:20-27
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 4:20-27
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Straight Path
20 My son, pay attention to my words;
listen closely to my sayings.(A)
21 Don’t lose sight of them;(B)
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else,[a]
for it is the source of life.(C)
24 Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly,(D)
and don’t let your lips talk deviously.
25 Let your eyes look forward;
fix your gaze[b] straight ahead.(E)
26 Carefully consider the path[c] for your feet,(F)
and all your ways will be established.
27 Don’t turn to the right or to the left;(G)
keep your feet away from evil.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:23 Or heart with all diligence
- Proverbs 4:25 Lit eyelids
- Proverbs 4:26 Or Clear a path
Proverbs 4:20-27
Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 4:20-27
Christian Standard Bible
The Straight Path
20 My son, pay attention to my words;
listen closely to my sayings.(A)
21 Don’t lose sight of them;(B)
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else,[a]
for it is the source of life.(C)
24 Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly,(D)
and don’t let your lips talk deviously.
25 Let your eyes look forward;
fix your gaze[b] straight ahead.(E)
26 Carefully consider the path[c] for your feet,(F)
and all your ways will be established.
27 Don’t turn to the right or to the left;(G)
keep your feet away from evil.
Proverbs 4:20-27
The Message
Proverbs 4:20-27
The Message
Learn It by Heart
20-22 Dear friend, listen well to my words;
tune your ears to my voice.
Keep my message in plain view at all times.
Concentrate! Learn it by heart!
Those who discover these words live, really live;
body and soul, they’re bursting with health.
23-27 Keep vigilant watch over your heart;
that’s where life starts.
Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth;
avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
Keep your eyes straight ahead;
ignore all sideshow distractions.
Watch your step,
and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
Look neither right nor left;
leave evil in the dust.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson