Proverbs 4:23-27 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.
‘Keep thy heart with all diligence.’ Above all, guard the heart from going astray, for out of it are the issues of life. The reference is not only to the arteries which carry the blood to all parts of the body but also to the evil and good deeds that come from the heart (centre) of man. (Mark 7:19-21). When one keeps the heart from evil – what we read, listen to or look at – it is an easy matter to obey the other commands of this passage (4:23-27).
‘Froward mouth and perverse lips.’ A perverse mouth is referred to in a threefold way: Froward speaking (2:12). Froward mouth (4:24; 6:12). Perverse lips (4:24).
This covers all the speaking faculties and their sinful exercise. Every idle word will be judged (Matt. 12:36-37).
‘Eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight.’ The eyes and eyelids must be kept from sin – what we look at (1Jn. 2:15-17).
Living the Word 