Veritable King James Version
1A good name is better than great riches, and favor is worth more than silver or gold.
2Rich and poor stand together; the Lord is Maker of them all.
3The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the price.
4Humility and fear of the Lord bring wealth, honor, and life.
5Thorns and snares lie in the path of the crooked; those who guard their lives stay far from them.
6Train a child in the way they should go, and when they are old, they will not depart from it.
7The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
8Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod of their fury will fail.
9The generous are blessed, for they share their food with the poor.
10Drive out the scoffer, and strife departs; quarrels and insults cease.
11Those who love a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as their friend.
12The eyes of the Lord guard knowledge, but He thwarts the words of the treacherous.
13The sluggard says, “A lion is outside; I’ll be killed in the streets!”
14The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit; those under the Lord’s wrath fall into it.
15Folly is bound to the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far.
16Oppressing the poor to gain wealth or favoring the rich—both lead to loss.
17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge,
18for it is pleasant to keep them within you, and have them ready on your lips.
19So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you.
20Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge,
21to make you know the certainty of true words, to answer with truth to those who sent you?
22Do not rob the poor because they are poor, nor crush the afflicted at the gate,
23for the Lord will plead their cause and take the life of those who rob them.
24Make no friend with an angry person, nor walk with one full of rage,
25lest you learn their ways and entangle your life in a snare.
26Do not be among those who pledge for others, or who guarantee another’s debts,
27for if you lack the means to pay, your bed will be taken from under you.
28Do not move an ancient boundary stone set by your ancestors.
29See a person skilled in their work? They will serve before kings, not obscure ones. Proverbs 23 The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 23 – VKJV
Translation notes
In verse 1, shem tov (“good name”) implies reputation and integrity, prioritized over osher (“riches”); “favor” translates chen, suggesting social grace (cf. Ecclesiastes 7:1). Verse 2’s ashir (“rich”) and rash (“poor”) are juxtaposed to emphasize divine creation (oseh, “Maker”) and equality before God (cf. Job 34:19). Verse 3’s arum (“prudent”) contrasts with peti (“simple”), where “take refuge” (chabah) implies proactive caution; “pay the price” renders anash (lit. “fined”). Verse 4’s anavah (“humility”) and yirat YHWH (“fear of the Lord”) are linked to covenant blessings (cf. Psalm 112:1–3). Verse 5’s “thorns and snares” (tzinnim u-fachim) metaphorically depict dangers; “guard their lives” translates shomer nafsho. Verse 6’s chanokh (“train”) implies dedicated instruction, with “way” (derekh) suggesting a life path; theologically, this reflects covenantal upbringing (cf. Deuteronomy 6:7). No significant Dead Sea Scrolls variants (e.g., 4Q102) alter this section, affirming Masoretic Text reliability.
Verse 7’s ashir (“rich”) and rash (“poor”) echo verse 2, with “slave” (eved) emphasizing economic servitude (cf. Proverbs 14:20). Verse 8’s zorea avlah (“sows injustice”) uses agricultural imagery, with aven (“calamity”) as the harvest; “rod of their fury” (shevet evrato) suggests fleeting power. Verse 9’s “generous” renders tov ayin (lit. “good eye”), a Hebrew idiom for generosity; “food” translates lechem, implying sustenance (cf. Psalm 41:1). Verse 10’s letz (“scoffer”) denotes a divisive figure; “drive out” (garash) implies expulsion for peace. Verse 11’s bar levav (“pure heart”) and chen sefatayim (“gracious speech”) reflect moral integrity, with “king” as a figure of favor (cf. Proverbs 16:13). Verse 12’s “eyes of the Lord” (einei YHWH) symbolize divine oversight, with “guard” (natzar) and “thwarts” (salaf) showing God’s justice; theologically, this affirms divine protection of truth (cf. Psalm 33:4). No notable Dead Sea Scrolls variants affect this section.
Verse 13’s atzel (“sluggard”) is a recurring figure in Proverbs, with “lion” (ari) as an exaggerated excuse for laziness; “streets” translates rechovot (public squares). Verse 14’s zurah (“immoral woman”) refers to an adulteress, with “deep pit” (shuchah amukah) as a metaphor for entrapment; “Lord’s wrath” (za’am YHWH) implies divine judgment (cf. Proverbs 5:3–5). Verse 15’s ivvelet (“folly”) suggests innate waywardness, with “rod of discipline” (shevet musar) indicating corrective guidance, not abuse (cf. Proverbs 13:24). Verse 16’s structure contrasts oppressing the poor (ashak dal) and favoring the rich (natan ashir), both leading to “loss” (machsor), implying moral and material ruin; theologically, this reflects covenantal justice (cf. Leviticus 19:15). No significant Dead Sea Scrolls variants noted.
Verse 17’s hateh ozen (“incline your ear”) and shama (“hear”) urge attentive learning, with “apply your heart” (shith libbeka) emphasizing internalization (cf. Proverbs 4:20). Verse 18’s “pleasant” (na’im) and “ready on your lips” suggest wisdom’s value and accessibility. Verse 19’s “trust in the Lord” (mibtach ba-YHWH) grounds wisdom in faith; “even you” translates af attah, personalizing the address. Verse 20’s “thirty sayings” (shloshim) likely refers to the following section (Proverbs 22:22–24:22), styled after Egyptian wisdom texts like Amenemope; “counsel and knowledge” (etza v’da’at) reflect wisdom’s scope. Verse 21’s “certainty” (koshet) emphasizes reliable truth, with “those who sent you” suggesting accountability (cf. Proverbs 25:13). Theologically, this section shifts to direct instruction, reinforcing covenantal wisdom. No notable Dead Sea Scrolls variants affect this section.
Verse 22’s al-tigzol dal (“do not rob the poor”) and “crush the afflicted at the gate” (daka ani b’sha’ar) address social injustice, with “gate” symbolizing the place of justice (cf. Amos 5:12). Verse 23’s “plead their cause” (yariv rivam) reflects God’s role as defender; “take the life” (kaba nefesh) implies severe judgment. Verse 24’s ba’al af (“angry person”) and “full of rage” (chemot) warn against toxic influence. Verse 25’s “snare” (moqesh) denotes moral entrapment (cf. Proverbs 13:20). Verse 26’s “pledge” (toqe’im kaf) and “guarantee” (arevim) caution against financial liability; verse 27’s “bed” (mittah) symbolizes basic possessions. Verse 28’s “ancient boundary stone” (gevul olam) refers to property markers, symbolizing respect for tradition (cf. Deuteronomy 19:14). Verse 29’s mahir biml’akhto (“skilled in their work”) emphasizes diligence, with “kings” denoting high status (cf. Ecclesiastes 10:6–7). Theologically, these verses uphold covenantal ethics—justice, caution, and integrity. No significant Dead Sea Scrolls variants noted.
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