« | Proverbs 5 | » |
1 My son, listen to my wisdom; bow your ear to my understanding;
2 in order to keep discretion, that your lips may keep knowledge.
3 For the lips of a strange woman drip honey, and her palate is smoother than oil;
4 but afterward she is as bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell,
6 lest you should meditate on the path of life, her tracks are movable; you cannot know them.
7 And now hear me, O sons, and do not depart from the words of my mouth.
8 Remove your ways far from her, and do not come near the door of her house,
9 lest you give your honor to others and your years to the cruel;
10 that strangers not be filled with your strength, and your labors be in the house of a stranger;
11 and you moan when your end comes, when your flesh and muscle are eaten away,
12 and say, How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised correction;
13 and I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor bowed down my ears to those who taught me!
14 I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
15 Drink waters out of your own cistern, and running waters out of your own well.
16 Should your overflowing spring be scattered abroad as rivers of waters in the streets.
17 Let them be only your own, and not strangers' with you.
18 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth.
19 Like the loving deer and pleasant doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times, and be ravished always with her love.
20 And why will you, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah, and He watches all his paths.
22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be held with the cords of his sin.
23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
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.