Pro 4:20-27 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Prov 4:20-27: 4:20-27 The wise walk the path of life with eyes straight ahead. Summary for Prov 4:20-21: 4:20-21 pay attention: See also 1:8 , 23 ; 2:1 ; 5:1-2 ; 7:1-3 ; 8:1 . The child is to let these teachings transform his personality, represented by his heart. A lifelong commitment to follow wisdom requires a change of heart.

Summary for Prov 4:20-27: 4:20-27 ^a The wise walk the path of life with eyes straight ahead.
Summary for Prov 4:20-21: 4:20-21 ^b pay attention: See also 1:8 ^c, 23 ^d; 2:1 ^e; 5:1-2 ^f; 7:1-3 ^g; 8:1 ^h. The child is to let these teachings transform his personality, represented by his heart. A lifelong commitment to follow wisdom requires a change of heart.
4:22 ⁱ Life and healing are rewards for following the wise instructions of the father (see 4:10 ^j).
4:23 ^k In the Old Testament, the heart represents the center of emotions, thinking, and reasoning (e.g., Gen 6:5 ^l; Deut 4:29 ^m; Ps 131:1 ⁿ). The heart is crucial in the battle between wisdom and foolishness, between righteousness and evil (see Matt 5:8 ^o; 13:15 ^p; John 12:40 ^q; Rom 6:17 ^r).
4:24 ^s Because a person’s words originate in the heart, Proverbs teaches extensively about speech. One of the most basic lessons is to avoid perverse or corrupt speech, later defined as lies, slander, gossip, and rumor (6:12 ^t; 17:4 ^u; 18:8 ^v).