NIV
New International Version · 1978 (rev. 2011)
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
17 words · Balance of accuracy and readability
Proverbs 4:6 — Compare Translations
Read this verse in 6 Bible translations — from word-for-word to thought-for-thought.
Dynamic equivalence
KJV
King James Version · 1611
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
15 words · Formal / word-for-word
ESV
English Standard Version · 2001 (rev. 2016)
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.
16 words · Essentially literal
NLT
New Living Translation · 1996 (rev. 2015)
Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.Love her, and she will guard you.
17 words · Thought-for-thought clarity
MSG
The Message · 2002
Never walk away from Wisdom—she guards your life; love her—she keeps her eye on you.
15 words · Contemporary paraphrase
NASB
New American Standard Bible · 1971 (rev. 2020)
'Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you.
17 words · Most literal English translation
Translation Length Comparison
NIV
17 words
KJV
15 words
ESV
16 words
NLT
17 words
MSG
15 words
NASB
17 words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bible translations are there for Proverbs 4:6?
Bible Verse Randomizer offers Proverbs 4:6 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 4:6 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.