NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom Warning Against Enticement Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Proverbs 1:8 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
16 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching,
12 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
My child, listen when your father corrects you.Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
12 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Pay close attention, friend, to what your father tells you; never forget what you learned at your mother's knee.
19 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
Hear, my son, your father's instruction And do not forsake your mother's teaching;
13 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
21 words
KJV
16 words
ESV
12 words
NLT
12 words
MSG
19 words
NASB
13 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Proverbs 1:8?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Proverbs 1:8 in 6 translations: New International Version, King James Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation, The Message, New American Standard Bible. Each uses a different translation philosophy — from word-for-word (KJV, ESV, NASB) to thought-for-thought (NIV, NLT) to paraphrase (MSG).
Which translation of Proverbs 1:8 is best?
No single translation is "best" — it depends on your purpose. For deep study, use the ESV or NASB (word-for-word). For devotional reading, the NIV balances accuracy and readability. The NLT and MSG are excellent for understanding the general meaning in modern English. Comparing multiple translations helps grasp the full richness of the text.
What is the difference between literal and dynamic Bible translations?
Literal (formal equivalence) translations like KJV, ESV, and NASB translate word-for-word from the original Hebrew/Greek. Dynamic equivalence translations like NIV and NLT translate thought-for-thought for clarity. The MSG is a paraphrase that captures the spirit in contemporary language. Each approach has strengths — that's why comparing translations is valuable.