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. 

‘Ponder the path of thy feet.’ A repetitive warning to trust in the Lord completely and not to lean on our own understanding, to acknowledge Him in all our ways and thus enable Him to direct us in our daily lives (3:5-7). Seven examples of pondering the right path: Abraham (Gen. 24:1-9); Eleazar (Gen. 24:5); Joshua (Jos. 24:15); Ruth (Rth. 1:16-18); David (Ps. 39:1); The good wife (Pro.31:27); Daniel (Dan. 1:8; 6:3-4).

‘Remove thy foot from evil.’ Six physical parts to be controlled: To keep one’s heart with all diligence (4:23). To put away the froward mouth (4:24). To put away perverse lips. To look straight with the eyes (4:25). To look straight with the eyelids. To guide one’s feet in righteousness (4:26-27).

The tongue is the smallest member that causes the most destruction in our lives and gets its encouragement from thoughts that are not godly and according to His Word (2Cor. 10:3-6; Php. 4:8; Col. 3:2: Eph. 4:22-23; 6:17; Jas. 1:14-15). Salvation alone can help a man control the tongue (2Cor. 5:17-18).

The circle of human life is continually excited by the tongue unless it is kept sanctified. Evil surmisings, misrepresentations, falsehoods, jealousies, envyings, wrath, and malice, all form part of the destroying flames of fire from the tongue of the ungodly. The whole course of life is set on fire in hell. This refers to the anger and violent passions of wrath related to the vile language of the tongue. It also pictures the confusion and misery caused by the tongue – like the misery of hell.

Twelve things about the tongue (Jas. 3:1-12): A little member. Boasts great things. Is a fire. A world of iniquity. It defiles the whole body. Sets on fire the course of nature. It is untameable. An unruly evil. Full of deadly poison. Used to bless God and curse men. Capable of good conversation. Capable of bitter strife.

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).