PROV 4:19 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Αἱ δὲ ὁδοὶ τῶν ἀσεβῶν σκοτειναὶ, οὐκ οἴδασι πῶς προσκόπτουσιν.
(Hai de hodoi tōn asebōn skoteinai, ouk oidasi pōs proskoptousin. )

ULT The way of the wicked is like the darkness;
⇔ they do not know on what they stumble.

UST But the way that wicked people live is dangerous, like people who walk in total darkness.
⇔ Like people walking in darkness do not know what they trip over, wicked people do not know what hurts them.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE The way of the wicked is like darkness.
⇔ They don’t know what they stumble over.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET The way of the wicked is like gloomy darkness;
⇔ they do not know what causes them to stumble.

LSV The way of the wicked [is] as darkness,
They have not known at what they stumble.

FBV But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.

T4T But the behavior of wicked people is like deep/thick darkness.
⇔ Because it is very dark, they cannot see the things that cause them to stumble.

LEB • The way of the wicked ones is like deep darkness; they do not know what they stumble over.

BBE The way of sinners is dark; they see not the cause of their fall.

Moff The course of bad men lies through darkness dim,
⇔ they cannot see what makes them stumble;

JPS The way of the wicked is as darkness; they know not at what they stumble.

ASV The way of the wicked is as darkness:
⇔ They know not at what they stumble.

DRA The way of the wicked is darksome: they know not where they fall.

YLT The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.

Drby The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

RV The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

SLT The way of the unjust as darkness: they shall not know in what they shall stumble.

Wbstr The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

KJB-1769 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

KJB-1611 The way of the wicked is as darknes: they know not at what they stumble.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps But the way of the vngodly is as the darkenesse, they knowe not where they fall.
(But the way of the ungodly is as the darkness, they know not where they fall.)

Gnva The way of the wicked is as the darkenes: they knowe not wherein they shall fall.
(The way of the wicked is as the darkness: they know not wherein they shall fall. )

Cvdl But ye waye of the vngodly is as the darcknesse, wherin me fall, or they be awarre.
(But ye/you_all way of the ungodly is as the darkness, wherein me fall, or they be awarre.)

Wycl The weie of wickid men is derk; thei witen not where thei schulen falle.
(The way of wicked men is derk; they perceive not where they should falle.)

Luth Der GOttlosen Weg aber ist wie Dunkel und wissen nicht, wo sie fallen werden.
(The godless_one(s) way/path/road but is as/like darkness and realise not, where they/she/them fall/drop become.)

ClVg Via impiorum tenebrosa; nesciunt ubi corruant.[fn]
(Via of_the_wicked tenebrosa; they_don't_know where corruant. )

4.19 Via impiorum. Dicit de his, etc., usque ad quia currens non habebit offendiculum.

4.19 Via of_the_wicked. Sayit from/about his, etc., until to because running not/no will_have stumbling_block.

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:10–19: Sixth lesson: Follow wise behavior and avoid the behavior of evil men

In this lesson, the father compares two lifestyles by using the metaphor of two paths. After an opening admonition to listen to his teaching (4:10), he describes the benefits of walking in the way of wisdom (4:11–13). He then describes the way of evil (4:14–17), and concludes by contrasting the two paths (4:18–19). Since the figure of walking on a path is used throughout this lesson, it is recommended that you keep this figurative idea if possible.

Some other headings for this section are:

Stay on the Path of Wisdom (GW)

The Right Way and the Wrong Way (CEV)

Paragraph 4:18–19

This paragraph gives a concluding contrast between the lives of righteous and wicked people. In Hebrew, it begins with a word that is often translated as “and” or “but.” A number of English versions, including the BSB, place this word at the beginning of 4:19. Some versions leave it implied.

4:19

Notice the parallelism. In the first line, the life of wicked people is compared to a person who walks in the darkness. The second line describes what walking in the darkness is like.

^19aBut the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;

^19b they do not know what makes them stumble.

4:19a–b

is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble: In this context (4:18–19), darkness probably represents insecurity, danger, and disaster, but it may also describe misery, uncertainty, or ignorance.Kidner (page 67) mentions uncertainty, as does Fox (page 183), who also lists ignorance and misery. Whybray (page 80) also lists misery as one of the multiple meanings of darkness. So it may be better to leave the point of comparison implied.

4:19a

But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;

But the life of people who do evil is like those who walk in extreme darkness.
But as for wicked people, the course of their life is like the darkness of night.

the darkest gloom: The word that the BSB translates as darkest gloom means “like darkness.” Use a natural expression in your language that is used to describe:

extreme darkness

total darkness (CEV)

the darkness of night

4:19b

they do not know what makes them stumble.

When they stumble, they are unable to see what caused them to stumble.
They are like a person who stumbles over something, but he does not know what he has stumbled over.

stumble: The word stumble is a metaphor that refers to trouble, disaster, difficulties, and harm. It should not be understood literally. See the note on 3:23a–b.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

דֶּ֣רֶךְ

road/way_of

Here, way has the same meaning as “path” in the previous verse. See how you translated “path” there.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

כָּֽ⁠אֲפֵלָ֑ה

[is]_like,darkness

Here Solomon compares the way of the wicked ones to darkness. He means that the wicked people are always in danger, just like people who walk in darkness are in danger because they cannot see where they are going. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “is dangerous”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לֹ֥א יָ֝דְע֗וּ בַּ⁠מֶּ֥ה יִכָּשֵֽׁלוּ

not know on,what? stumble