The Father's Instruction
Proverbs 4
The father recalls the instruction he himself received as a boy and passes it on, urging his son to hold fast to wisdom so that his life may be long and secure. He contrasts the way of the righteous, which shines brighter until full day, with the way of the wicked, who stumble in darkness, and calls his son to guard his heart and keep his steps from turning aside.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonHEAR, O children, the instructions of a father; and attend to know the meaning:
BrentonHear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
GreekἈκούσατε, παῖδες, παιδείαν πατρὸς, καὶ προσέχετε γνῶναι ἔννοιαν.
KJVHear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
JPSHear, ye children, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding.
2
Thomsonfor I am giving you a good gift; forsake not my law:
BrentonFor I give you a good gift; forsake ye not my law.
GreekΔῶρον γὰρ ἀγαθὸν δωροῦμαι ὑμῖν, τὸν ἐμὸν νόμον μὴ ἐγκαταλίπητε.
KJVFor I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
JPSFor I give you a good taking; Forsake ye not my teaching.
3
Thomsonfor I was a son obedient to a father; and beloved in the sight of a mother:
BrentonFor I also was a son obedient to my father, and loved in the sight of my mother:
GreekΥἱὸς γὰρ ἐγενόμην κᾀγὼ πατρὶ ὑπήκοος, καὶ ἀγαπώμενος ἐν προσώπῳ μητρός.
KJVFor I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
JPSFor I was a son unto my father, Tender and an only one in front of my mother.
4
Thomson—
Brentonwho spoke and instructed me, saying, Let our speech be fixed in thine heart, keep our commandments, forget them not:
GreekΟἳ ἔλεγον καὶ ἐδίδασκόν με, ἐρειδέτω ὁ ἡμέτερος λόγος εἰς σὴν καρδίαν· φύλασσε ἐντολὰς,
KJVHe taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
JPSAnd he taught me, and said unto me: ‘Let thy heart hold fast my words, Keep my commandments, and live;
5
ThomsonKeep our commandments; do not forget—overlook not the dictate of my mouth:
Brentonand do not neglect the speech of my mouth.
Greekμὴ ἐπιλάθῃ· Μηδὲ παρίδῃς ῥῆσιν ἐμοῦ στόματος,
KJVGet wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
JPSGet wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;
6
Thomsonlove it and it will preserve thee:
BrentonAnd forsake it not, and it shall cleave to thee: love it, and it shall keep thee.
Greekμηδὲ ἐγκαταλίπῃς αὐτὴν, καὶ ἀνθέξεταί σου· ἐράσθητι αὐτῆς, καὶ τηρήσει σε.
KJVForsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
JPSForsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee.
8
Thomsonsecure it and it will exalt thee: honour it that it may embrace thee:
BrentonSecure it, and it shall exalt thee: honour it, that it may embrace thee;
GreekΠεριχαράκωσον αὐτὴν, καὶ ὑψώσει σε· τίμησον αὐτὴν, ἵνα σε περιλάβῃ·
KJVExalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
JPSExtol her, and she will exalt thee; She will bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9
Thomsonthat it may be to thy head a crown of graces and cover thee with a crown of pleasure.
Brentonthat it may give unto thy head a crown of graces, and may cover thee with a crown of delight.
GreekἽνα δῷ τῇ σῇ κεφαλῇ στέφανον χαρίτων, στεφάνῳ δὲ τρυφῆς ὑπερασπίσῃ σου.
KJVShe shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
JPSShe will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of glory will she bestow on thee.’
10
ThomsonHear, my son, and receive my words; that, when the years of thy life shall be multiplied, thou mayst have many means of a livelihood:
BrentonHear, my son, and receive my words; and the years of thy life shall be increased, that the resources of thy life may be many.
GreekἌκουε υἱὲ καὶ δέξαι ἐμοὺς λόγους, καὶ πληθυνθήσεται ἔτη ζωῆς σου, ἵνα σοι γένωνται πολλαὶ ὁδοὶ βίου.
KJVHear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
JPSHear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many.
11
Thomsonfor I am teaching thee ways of wisdom and confirming thee in right paths.
BrentonFor I teach thee the ways of wisdom; and I cause thee to go in right paths.
GreekὉδοὺς γὰρ σοφίας διδάσκω σε, ἐμβιβάζω δέ σε τροχιαῖς ὀρθαῖς.
KJVI have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
JPSI have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness.
12
ThomsonFor when thou goest, thy steps will not be straitened: and when thou runnest thou shalt not be tired.
BrentonFor when thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not be distressed.
GreekἘὰν γὰρ πορεύῃ, οὐ συγκλεισθήσεταί σου τὰ διαβήματα· ἐὰν δὲ τρέχῃς, οὐ κοπιάσεις.
KJVWhen thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
JPSWhen thou goest, thy step shall not be straitened; And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13
ThomsonTake fast hold of mine instruction, let it not go: but keep it for thyself during thy life.
BrentonTake hold of my instruction; let it not go,—but keep it for thyself for thy life.
GreekἘπιλαβοῦ ἐμῆς παιδείας, μὴ ἀφῇς, ἀλλὰ φύλαξον αὐτὴν σεαυτῷ εἰς ζωήν σου.
KJVTake fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
JPSTake fast hold of instruction, let her not go; Keep her, for she is thy life.
14
ThomsonGo not in the ways of wicked men, nor be fond of the ways of transgressors.
BrentonGo not in the ways of the ungodly, neither covet the ways of transgressors.
GreekὉδοὺς ἀσεβῶν μὴ ἐπέλθῃς, μηδὲ ζηλώσῃς ὁδοὺς παρανόμων.
KJV—
JPS—
15
ThomsonIn what place soever they encamp, go not thither: but turn away from them and keep at a distance,
BrentonIn whatever place they shall pitch their camp, go not thither; but turn from them, and pass away.
GreekἘν ᾧ ἂν τόπῳ στρατοπεδεύσωσι, μὴ ἐπέλθῃς ἐκεὶ, ἔκκλινον δὲ ἀπʼ αὐτῶν καὶ παράλλαξον.
KJVAvoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
JPSAvoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on.
16
Thomsonfor they cannot sleep. Unless they do evil their sleep is taken from them, and they cannot lie down to rest.
BrentonFor they cannot sleep, unless they have done evil: their sleep is taken away, and they rest not.
GreekΟὐ γὰρ μὴ ὑπνώσωσιν, ἐὰν μὴ κακοποιήσωσιν· ἀφῄρηται ὁ ὕπνος αὐτῶν, καὶ οὐ κοιμῶνται.
KJVFor they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
JPSFor they sleep not, except they have done evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17
Thomson—
BrentonFor these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression.
GreekΟἵδε γὰρ σιτοῦνται σῖτα ἀσεβείας, οἴνῳ δὲ παρανόμῳ μεθύσκονται.
KJVFor they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
JPSFor they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.
18
ThomsonBut the paths of the just shine like light; shining more and more until it is perfect day.
BrentonBut the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go on and shine, until the day be fully come.
GreekΑἱ δὲ ὁδοὶ τῶν δικαίων ὁμοίως φωτὶ λάμπουσι, προπορεύονται καὶ φωτίζουσιν, ἕως κατορθώσῃ ἡ ἡμέρα.
KJV—
JPSBut the path of the righteous is as the light of dawn, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19
ThomsonBut the ways of the wicked being dark, they know not at what they stumble.
BrentonBut the ways of the ungodly are dark; they know not how they stumble.
GreekΑἱ δὲ ὁδοὶ τῶν ἀσεβῶν σκοτειναὶ, οὐκ οἴδασι πῶς προσκόπτουσιν.
KJVThe way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
JPSThe way of the wicked is as darkness; They know not at what they stumble.
20
ThomsonAttend, my son, to my speech, and incline thine ear to my words.
BrentonMy son, attend to my speech; and apply thine ear to my words:
GreekΥἱὲ ἐμῇ ῥήσει πρόσεχε, τοῖς δὲ ἐμοῖς λόγοις παράβαλλε σὸν οὖς.
KJVMy son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
JPSMy son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21
ThomsonThat thy fountains may not fail thee, keep them in thy heart;
Brentonthat thy fountains may not fail thee; keep them in thine heart.
GreekὍπως μὴ ἐκλίπωσί σε αἱ πηγαί σου, φύλασσε αὐτὰς ἐν καρδίᾳ.
KJVLet them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
JPSLet them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart.
22
Thomsonfor they are life to them who find them, and health to all flesh.
BrentonFor they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
GreekΖωὴ γάρ ἐστι τοῖς εὑρίσκουσιν αὐτὰς, καὶ πάσῃ σαρκὶ ἴασις.
KJVFor they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
JPSFor they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh.
23
ThomsonGuard thy heart with all diligence; for out of these are the issues of life.
BrentonKeep thine heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life.
GreekΠάσῃ φυλακῇ τήρει σὴν καρδίαν, ἐκ γὰρ τούτων ἔξοδοι ζωῆς.
KJVKeep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
JPSAbove all that thou guardest keep thy heart; For out of it are the issues of life.
24
ThomsonPut away from thee a froward mouth, and put perverse lips far from thee.
BrentonRemove from thee a froward mouth, and put far away from thee unjust lips.
GreekΠερίελε σεαυτοῦ σκολιὸν στόμα, καὶ ἄδικα χείλη μακρὰν ἀπὸ σοῦ ἄπωσαι.
KJVPut away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
JPSPut away from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee.
25
ThomsonLet thine eyes look straight forward and thine eyelids wink justly.
BrentonLet thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids assent to just things.
GreekΟἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου ὀρθὰ βλεπέτωσαν, τὰ δὲ βλέφαρά σου νευέτω δίκαια.
KJVLet thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
JPSLet thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26
ThomsonMake straight paths with thy feet and order all thy ways right.
BrentonMake straight paths for thy feet, and order thy ways aright.
GreekὈρθὰς τροχιὰς ποίει σοῖς ποσί, καὶ τὰς ὁδούς σου κατεύθυνε.
KJV—
JPSMake plain the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established.
27
Thomson—
BrentonTurn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away thy foot from an evil way:
GreekΜὴ ἐκκλίνῃς εἰς τὰ δεξιὰ, μηδὲ εἰς τὰ ἀριστερά, ἀπόστρεψον δὲ σὸν πόδα ἀπὸ ὁδοῦ κακῆς·
KJVTurn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
JPSTurn not to the right hand nor to the left; Remove thy foot from evil.
27a
Thomson—
Brenton[for God knows the ways on the right hand, but those on the left are crooked:]
Greekὁδοὺς γὰρ τὰς ἐκ δεξιῶν οἶδεν ὁ Θεὸς, διεστραμμέναι δέ εἰσιν αἱ ἐξ ἀριστερῶν·
KJV—
JPS—
27b
ThomsonTurn not to the right, nor the left; but turn away thy foot from an evil way; for God knoweth the ways on the right, but those on the left are crooked. But he will make thy paths straight and conduct thy steps in peace.
Brentonand he will make thy ways straight, and will guide thy steps in peace.
Greekαὐτὸς δὲ ὀρθὰς ποιήσει τὰς τροχιάς σου, τὰς δὲ πορείας σου ἐν εἰρήνῃ προάξει.
KJV—
JPS—