Proverbs 4 Comparison: Bible in Basic English vs New Heart English Bible
Proverbs 4
1Give ear, my sons, to the teaching of a father; give attention so that you may have knowledge:
2For I give you good teaching; do not give up the knowledge you are getting from me.
3For I was a son to my father, a gentle and an only one to my mother.
4And he gave me teaching, saying to me, Keep my words in your heart; keep my rules so that you may have life:
5Get wisdom, get true knowledge; keep it in memory, do not be turned away from the words of my mouth.
6Do not give her up, and she will keep you; give her your love, and she will make you safe.
7The first sign of wisdom is to get wisdom; go, give all you have to get true knowledge.
8Put her in a high place, and you will be lifted up by her; she will give you honour, when you give her your love.
9She will put a crown of grace on your head, giving you a head-dress of glory.
10Give ear, O my son, and let your heart be open to my sayings; and long life will be yours.
11I have given you teaching in the way of wisdom, guiding your steps in the straight way.
12When you go, your way will not be narrow, and in running you will not have a fall.
13Take learning in your hands, do not let her go: keep her, for she is your life.
14Do not go in the road of sinners, or be walking in the way of evil men.
15Keep far from it, do not go near; be turned from it, and go on your way.
16For they take no rest till they have done evil; their sleep is taken away if they have not been the cause of someone's fall.
17The bread of evil-doing is their food, the wine of violent acts their drink.
18But the way of the upright is like the light of early morning, getting brighter and brighter till the full day.
19The way of sinners is dark; they see not the cause of their fall.
20My son, give attention to my words; let your ear be turned to my sayings.
21Let them not go from your eyes; keep them deep in your heart.
22For they are life to him who gets them, and strength to all his flesh.
23And keep watch over your heart with all care; so you will have life.
24Put away from you an evil tongue, and let false lips be far from you.
25Keep your eyes on what is in front of you, looking straight before you.
26Keep a watch on your behaviour; let all your ways be rightly ordered.
27Let there be no turning to the right or to the left, keep your feet from evil.
Proverbs 4
1Listen, sons, to a father's instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
2for I give you sound learning. Do not forsake my law.
3For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
4He taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
5Get wisdom. Get understanding. Do not forget, neither swerve from the words of my mouth.
6Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
7Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
8Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.
9She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you."
10Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
11I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
12When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
13Take firm hold of instruction. Do not let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
14Do not enter into the path of the wicked. Do not walk in the way of evil men.
15Avoid it, and do not pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
16For they do not sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, that shines more and more until the perfect day.
19The way of the wicked is like darkness. They do not know what they stumble over.
20My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
21Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
23Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
25Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
26Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
27Do not turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
Understanding Bible in Basic English vs New Heart English Bible in Proverbs 4
Bible in Basic English (BBE)
A simplified translation using a limited English vocabulary for clarity and accessibility. Helpful for new readers, ESL learners, and quick comprehension. Great for devotional reading and getting the big picture of each passage.
New Heart English Bible (NHEB)
A modern public domain translation with clear, contemporary English. Designed for readability while staying close to the source text. A solid option for both daily reading and study.
You are viewing a side-by-side comparison of Proverbs 4 in the Bible in Basic English and New Heart English Bible. Comparing these two versions can help shed light on the nuances of the original text.
Key Comparison: Proverbs 4:16
"For they take no rest till they have done evil; their sleep is taken away if they have not been the cause of someone's fall."
"For they do not sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall."
