My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 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.
There is not much variety in these verses, but they contain the same wholesome admonitions. They are all in perfect conformity to the gospel precepts. And while they very strongly recommend an uniform attention to keep the heart with all diligence, they imply the necessity of looking to God to keep it, because Out of it are the issues of life. The apostle recommends diligence in the work of grace upon the same principle, because be saith, that it is God that worketh in us, both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13.