Proverbs 4 Comparison: American Standard Version vs Young's Literal Translation
Proverbs 4
1Hear, mysons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding:
2For I give you good doctrine; Forsake ye not my law.
3For I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live;
5Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;
6Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee.
7Wisdomisthe principal thing; therefore get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding.
8Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.
9She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee.
10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many.
11I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness.
12When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: Keep her; for she is thy life.
14Enter not into the path of the wicked, And walk not in the way of evil men.
15Avoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on.
16For they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.
18But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble.
20My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart.
22For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.
24Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee.
25Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26Make level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established.
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil.
Proverbs 4
1Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
3For, a son I have been to my fathertender, And an only one before my mother.
4And he directeth me, and he saith to me: `Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
6Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
7The first thing is wisdomget wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
8Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
9She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.
10Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life are multiplied to thee.
11In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
12In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
13Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she is thy life.
14Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
15Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not some to stumble.
17For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
18And the path of the righteous is as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,
19The way of the wicked is as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
21Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
22For life they are to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
23Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it are the outgoings of life.
24Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
25Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways are established.
27Incline not to the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
Understanding American Standard Version vs Young's Literal Translation in Proverbs 4
American Standard Version (ASV)
A highly literal translation known for accuracy and adherence to the original Hebrew and Greek. Consistent word choices make it excellent for careful study and cross-referencing. A strong pick for readers who want a precise, classic-modern English Bible.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
An extremely literal, word-for-word translation that preserves original verb tenses and phrasing. Best for close study and comparing structures from the source languages. The English can feel rigid, but it’s very useful for detailed analysis.
You are viewing a side-by-side comparison of Proverbs 4 in the American Standard Version and Young's Literal Translation. Comparing these two versions can help shed light on the nuances of the original text.
Key Comparison: Proverbs 4:16
"For they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall."
"For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not some to stumble."
