Skip to content
VERSESCOPE

Compare translations

Proverbs 4

Highlighted words differ from the KJV. Most differences are matters of wording, style or the age of the English, not of meaning; a few reflect different manuscripts.

  1. 1
    KJVHear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
    WEBListen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
  2. 2
    KJVFor I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
    WEBfor I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
  3. 3
    KJVFor I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
    WEBFor I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
  4. 4
    KJVHe taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
    WEBHe taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
  5. 5
    KJVGet wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
    WEBGet wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
  6. 6
    KJVForsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
    WEBDon’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
  7. 7
    KJVWisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
    WEBWisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
  8. 8
    KJVExalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
    WEBEsteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
  9. 9
    KJVShe shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
    WEBShe will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
  10. 10
    KJVHear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
    WEBListen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
  11. 11
    KJVI have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
    WEBI have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
  12. 12
    KJVWhen thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
    WEBWhen you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
  13. 13
    KJVTake fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
    WEBTake firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
  14. 14
    KJVEnter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
    WEBDon’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
  15. 15
    KJVAvoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
    WEBAvoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
  16. 16
    KJVFor they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
    WEBFor they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
  17. 17
    KJVFor they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
    WEBFor they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
  18. 18
    KJVBut the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
    WEBBut the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
  19. 19
    KJVThe way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
    WEBThe way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
  20. 20
    KJVMy son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
    WEBMy son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
  21. 21
    KJVLet them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
    WEBLet them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart.
  22. 22
    KJVFor they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
    WEBFor they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
  23. 23
    KJVKeep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
    WEBKeep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
  24. 24
    KJVPut away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
    WEBPut away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
  25. 25
    KJVLet thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
    WEBLet your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
  26. 26
    KJVPonder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
    WEBMake the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
  27. 27
    KJVTurn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
    WEBDon’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
  • King James Version (1769 text), public domain outside the United Kingdom, where Crown letters patent apply.
  • World English Bible (WEB), public domain. “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org.