Proverbs 4 Comparison: Noyes Translation (1869) vs King James Version
Proverbs 4
1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, And attend, that ye may learn understanding!
2For I give you good instruction; Forsake ye not my commandments.
3For I was my father’s son, A tender and only child in the sight of my mother.
4He taught me, and said to me, Let thy heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments, and live.
5Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, and depart not from, the words of my mouth.
6Forsake her not, and she will guard thee: Love her, and she will preserve thee.
7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore gain wisdom, And with all thy gain, gain 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 graceful wreath, A beautiful crown will she bestow upon thee.
10Hear, O my son! and receive my sayings! So shall the years of thy life be many.
11I have taught thee the way of wisdom, I have guided thee in the right path.
12When thou goest, thy steps shall not be confined; And, when 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 go not in the way of evil men;
15Avoid it, pass not upon it, Turn from it, and go away.
16For they sleep not, unless they have done mischief; Yea, their sleep is taken away, unless they have caused 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 light of dawn, Which groweth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.
19The way of the wicked is as thick darkness; They know not at what they stumble.
20My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear to my sayings;
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart!
22For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
23More than any thing which thou watchest, watch thy heart; For from it goeth forth life.
24Put away from thee a deceitful mouth, And remove far from thee perverse lips.
25Let thine eyes look straight forward, And thine eyelids be directed before thee.
26Give heed to the path of thy foot, And let all thy ways be steadfast.
27Turn not to the right hand or to the left; Remove thy foot from evil.
Proverbs 4
1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
3For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
5Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
8Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall 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 right paths.
12When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when 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 go not in the way of evil men.
15Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; 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 just is as the shining 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 thine 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 froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26Ponder 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.
Understanding Noyes Translation (1869) vs King James Version in Proverbs 4
Noyes Translation (1869) (Noyes)
A scholarly 1869 translation by George R. Noyes, aiming for precision and literary beauty. Known for its distinct Unitarian perspective and separate translation of poetical books like Psalms.
King James Version (KJV)
The classic 1611 English translation known for its majestic prose and literary influence. Ideal for traditional study and memorization thanks to its formal style. A foundational English Bible used for centuries.
You are viewing a side-by-side comparison of Proverbs 4 in the Noyes Translation (1869) and King James Version. Comparing these two versions can help shed light on the nuances of the original text.
Key Comparison: Proverbs 4:16
"For they sleep not, unless they have done mischief; Yea, their sleep is taken away, unless they have caused some to fall."
"For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall."
