« | Proverbs 2 | » |
1 My son, if you will receive my words and hide my commandments with you,
2 so that you attend to wisdom, you shall extend your heart to understanding;
3 yea, if you cry after knowledge and lift up your voice for understanding;
4 if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures,
5 then you shall understand the fear of Jehovah and find the knowledge of God.
6 For Jehovah gives wisdom; out of His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly.
8 He keeps the paths of judgment, and guards the way of His saints.
9 Then you shall understand righteousness and judgment and honesty, every good path.
10 When wisdom enters into your heart, and knowledge is pleasing to your soul;
11 judgment shall keep you, understanding shall keep you,
12 to deliver you from the way of the evil man, from the man who speaks wicked things;
13 those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness,
14 who rejoice to do evil and delight in the perversities of the wicked;
15 whose ways are crooked, and are devious in their paths.
16 They will deliver you from the strange woman, the stranger who flatters with her words,
17 who forsakes the guide of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God.
18 For her house bows down to death, and her paths to the dead.
19 All who go in to her do not return, nor do they take hold of the paths of life,
20 in order that you may walk in the way of good and keep the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
The Modern King James Version (MKJV)
The Modern King James Version (MKJV) is a contemporary English translation of the Bible that aims to preserve the majesty and accuracy of the original King James Version (KJV) while updating its language for modern readers. Developed by Jay P. Green Sr. and first published in 1990, the MKJV seeks to maintain the literary beauty and doctrinal reliability of the KJV, making only necessary adjustments to archaic terms and phrases to enhance readability. This careful balance allows the MKJV to retain the classic feel of the KJV while making it more accessible to today’s audience.
One of the standout features of the MKJV is its commitment to formal equivalence, or word-for-word translation. The translators have meticulously preserved the structure and vocabulary of the KJV, only updating words and phrases that have become outdated or whose meanings have shifted over time. This approach ensures that the MKJV remains faithful to the original texts and maintains the theological and literary integrity of the KJV. By preserving the cadence and phrasing of the original, the MKJV offers a reading experience that is both familiar and refreshed for modern readers.
The MKJV also pays special attention to the textual basis of the translation. Like the KJV, it relies on the Textus Receptus for the New Testament and the Masoretic Text for the Old Testament. This adherence to traditional source texts underscores the MKJV’s commitment to continuity with the historic Christian tradition. The translation is designed to serve both devotional and scholarly purposes, providing a text that is suitable for study, teaching, and public reading in a variety of settings.
Despite its strengths, the Modern King James Version has faced some criticism. Some scholars and readers argue that the translation could benefit from a more extensive revision to fully embrace contemporary language, suggesting that the MKJV’s adherence to the structure and style of the KJV may still pose challenges for modern readers. Others appreciate the balance it strikes but note that it occupies a niche space, appealing primarily to those who have a strong attachment to the KJV. Nonetheless, the MKJV remains a respected and valued translation for those seeking a modern update of the KJV that honors its rich heritage and timeless message.