« | Proverbs 23 | » |
1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you:
2 And put a knife to your throat, if you be a man given to appetite.
3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
4 Labor not to be rich: cease from your own wisdom.
5 Will you set your eyes on that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
6 Eat you not the bread of him that has an evil eye, neither desire you his dainty meats:
7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, said he to you; but his heart is not with you.
8 The morsel which you have eaten shall you vomit up, and lose your sweet words.
9 Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
11 For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with you.
12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if you beat him with the rod, he shall not die.
14 You shall beat him with the rod, and shall deliver his soul from hell.
15 My son, if your heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.
16 Yes, my reins shall rejoice, when your lips speak right things.
17 Let not your heart envy sinners: but be you in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
18 For surely there is an end; and your expectation shall not be cut off.
19 Hear you, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart in the way.
20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
22 Listen to your father that begat you, and despise not your mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begets a wise child shall have joy of him.
25 Your father and your mother shall be glad, and she that bore you shall rejoice.
26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
28 She also lies in wait as for a prey, and increases the transgressors among men.
29 Who has woe? who has sorrow? who has contentions? who has babbling? who has wounds without cause? who has redness of eyes?
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
31 Look not you on the wine when it is red, when it gives his color in the cup, when it moves itself aright.
32 At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder.
33 Your eyes shall behold strange women, and your heart shall utter perverse things.
34 Yes, you shall be as he that lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he that lies on the top of a mast.
35 They have stricken me, shall you say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
The American King James Version (AKJV)
The American King James Version (AKJV) is a modernized adaptation of the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, which seeks to retain the majesty and accuracy of the original text while updating some of the archaic language to make it more accessible to contemporary readers. The AKJV was created by Michael Peter (Stone) Engelbrite in the late 20th century, aiming to preserve the classic beauty and literary excellence of the KJV while ensuring that the scripture remains comprehensible to modern audiences. Michael Peter (Stone) Engelbrite of True Grace Ministries, claims his version is a simple word for word update from the King James English.
This translation adheres closely to the text and structure of the KJV, making only minimal changes where necessary to update outdated terms and phrases. One of the significant features of the AKJV is its commitment to maintaining the same verse structure and traditional phrasing that has made the KJV so enduringly popular. By making modest updates to the language, such as replacing thee and thou with you and your, the AKJV provides a version of the Bible that feels familiar to those who have long cherished the KJV, while being more approachable for new readers. This careful balance allows the AKJV to honor the historical and literary legacy of the KJV while meeting the linguistic needs of readers of today.
The AKJV also seeks to remain faithful to the doctrinal and theological foundations of the KJV. By preserving the original text's meaning and intent, the AKJV provides a reliable translation for study, worship, and personal devotion. Its adherence to the Textus Receptus for the New Testament and the Masoretic Text for the Old Testament ensures that the translation remains consistent with the sources that have historically underpinned the KJV. This fidelity to the original manuscripts and theological perspectives of the KJV helps maintain the trust and respect that many readers have for this venerable translation.
Despite its strengths, the AKJV has not been without its criticisms. Some scholars and readers argue that the translation does not go far enough in updating the language, leaving certain passages still challenging for modern audiences. Others feel that any alteration to the KJV diminishes its historical and literary significance. Nonetheless, the AKJV remains a valuable resource for those who seek a Bible translation that bridges the gap between the time-honored KJV and the needs of contemporary readers, offering a version that is both reverent and readable.