Proverbs 4:5

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

קְנֵ֣ה חָ֭כְמָה קְנֵ֣ה בִינָ֑ה אַל־תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח וְאַל־תֵּ֝֗ט מֵֽאִמְרֵי־פִֽי׃

Transliteration

qənê ḥākmâ qənê bînâ ʾal-tiškaḥ wəʾal-tēṭ mēʾimrê-pî

Grammar Details

*qənê*: imperative, masculine singular, qal - acquire/buy/get
*ḥākmâ*: feminine singular noun - wisdom
*bînâ*: feminine singular noun - understanding/discernment
*ʾal-tiškaḥ*: negative particle + imperfect, 2nd person masculine singular, qal - do not forget
*wəʾal-tēṭ*: conjunction + negative particle + imperfect, 2nd person masculine singular, qal - and do not turn aside/deviate
*mēʾimrê-pî*: preposition + masculine plural construct noun + masculine singular noun + 1st person singular suffix - from sayings of my mouth

Word Meanings

*qənê*: acquire/buy/get/possess
*ʾimrê*: sayings/words/utterances

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

2 Chr 34:2 : 2 And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, and walked in the ways of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.
Job 23:11 : 11 My foot hath held fast to his steps; His way have I kept, and turned not aside.
Ps 44:18 : 18 Our heart is not turned back, Neither have our steps declined from thy way,
Ps 119:51 : 51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: [Yet] have I not swerved from thy law.
Ps 119:157 : 157 Many are my persecutors and mine adversaries; [Yet] have I not swerved from thy testimonies.
Prov 1:22-23 : 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you; I will make known my words unto you.
Prov 2:2-4 : 2 So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thy heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou cry after discernment, And lift up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasures:
Prov 3:13-18 : 13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding. 14 For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her.
Prov 8:5 : 5 O ye simple, understand prudence; And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.
Prov 16:16 : 16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.
Prov 17:16 : 16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?
Prov 18:1 : 1 He that separateth himself seeketh [his own] desire, And rageth against all sound wisdom.
Prov 19:8 : 8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good.
Prov 23:23 : 23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; [Yea], wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
Jas 1:5 : 5 But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Prov 4:6-8
3 verses
85%
6Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee.
7Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [Therefore] get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding.
8Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.
Prov 4:4
83%
4And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live;
Prov 5:7-8
2 verses
78%
7Now therefore, [my] sons, hearken unto me, And depart not from the words of my mouth.
8Remove thy way far from her, And come not nigh the door of her house;
Prov 3:1
78%
1My son, forget not my law; But let thy heart keep my commandments:
Prov 5:1-2
2 verses
78%
1My son, attend unto my wisdom; Incline thine ear to my understanding:
2That thou mayest preserve discretion, And that thy lips may keep knowledge.
Prov 3:21
78%
21My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
Prov 4:20-22
3 verses
78%
20My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart.
22For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh.
Prov 4:13
76%
13Take fast hold of instruction; Let her not go: Keep her; For she is thy life.
Prov 1:8
76%
8My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:
Prov 4:10
75%
10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many.
Prov 19:8
75%
8He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good.
Prov 7:25
75%
25Let not thy heart decline to her ways; Go not astray in her paths.
Prov 2:1-2
2 verses
75%
1My son, if thou wilt receive my words, And lay up my commandments with thee;
2So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thy heart to understanding;
Prov 2:10-11
2 verses
75%
10For wisdom shall enter into thy heart, And knowledge shall be pleasant unto thy soul;
11Discretion shall watch over thee; Understanding shall keep thee:
Prov 8:33
75%
33Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not.
Prov 7:4-5
2 verses
75%
4Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; And call understanding [thy] kinswoman:
5That they may keep thee from the strange woman, From the foreigner that flattereth with her words.
Prov 23:23
74%
23Buy the truth, and sell it not; [Yea], wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
Prov 2:6
74%
6For Jehovah giveth wisdom; Out of his mouth [cometh] knowledge and understanding:
Prov 4:1-2
2 verses
74%
1Hear, [my] sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding:
2For I give you good doctrine; Forsake ye not my law.
Prov 7:1
74%
1My son, keep my words, And lay up my commandments with thee.
Prov 1:5
74%
5That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:
Prov 8:10-11
2 verses
74%
10Receive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than choice gold.
11For wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it.
Prov 9:6
73%
6Leave off, ye simple ones, and live; And walk in the way of understanding.
Prov 1:2
73%
2To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding;
Prov 16:22-23
2 verses
73%
22Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; But the correction of fools is [their] folly.
23The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips.
Prov 6:20
73%
20My son, keep the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:
Prov 4:24
73%
24Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee.
Prov 8:5
73%
5O ye simple, understand prudence; And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.
Prov 6:24
72%
24To keep thee from the evil woman, From the flattery of the foreigner's tongue.
Prov 2:17
72%
17That forsaketh the friend of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God:
Prov 4:15
72%
15Avoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on.
Prov 16:16
72%
16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.
Prov 3:13
72%
13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding.
Prov 22:17-18
2 verses
72%
17Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, If they be established together upon thy lips.
Prov 9:4
72%
4Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,
Prov 3:3
71%
3Let not kindness and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
Prov 23:9
71%
9Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.