Proverbs 10:8

The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
– Proverbs 10:8

Solomon here contrasts characteristics of the wise and foolish. The parallelism also speaks of the results of each. The wise in heart, or mind, are teachable and will receive commandments. Having wisdom in Proverbs never amounts to being a know-it-all but being a learner (Proverbs 1:5; 9:9). It is a distinct mark of wisdom. The prating fool is literally the foolish of lips. It refers to talkativeness in volume of words but also being opinionated where the fool delights more in his own foolishness than the counsel of wisdom (Proverbs 12:23; Ecclesiastes 10:14). Because the fool won’t hear instruction and prefers his own vain thoughts, he will fall or come to ruin (Proverbs 18:6-7).

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Proverbs 7:25

Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
– Proverbs 7:25

To decline is to deviate, to get off course. The heart refers to the mind where the battle is really fought. Once the mind deviates to her course, the person is astray in her way. The mind and heart must be guarded so that no thoughts of the strange woman are entertained. You go astray literally and physically, so Solomon warns to physically stay away, or keep clear of her paths.

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Proverbs 6:21

Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
– Proverbs 6:21

This verse speaks of the way the son is to keep and not forsake the wise instruction of his parents. Binding upon the heart refers to holding them in the mind and meditating on them. It could even refer to memorization by rote. The point is for the son to take them as a permanent fixture of his mind and thinking. They should always be close at hand. A necklace, jewel, or some other ornament is often tied about the neck. On the one hand, this instructs the son to highly esteem wisdom. On the other, it reminds him to have it always with him.

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Proverbs 4:23

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
– Proverbs 4:23

Verses 23 to 27 end this chapter with an exhortation to practical living by wisdom. All diligence means to keep or guard the heart above all else. Solomon starts with the heart because it is the source, for that is what issues means. Jesus said that the defilement of a man wasn’t from without but within (Matthew 15:19). We must labor to grasp onto wise sayings and guard them with all diligence. We must keep them fixed in our mind that we not go astray in the evil way.

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Proverbs 4:21

Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
– Proverbs 4:21

Solomon continues addressing the sensory parts here with eyes and heart. The eyes see and read the words of wisdom that are written. The eyes are also put for looking well to your goings, which is a crucial feature of wisdom. The heart often means the mind or thinking faculty. It can also refer to the emotions or the whole inner being. Wise sayings must be fixed in the mind which speaks to deliberate actions rather than heat-of-the-moment decisions.

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