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Sunday, July 27th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Bible in Basic English

Proverbs 30:29

There are three things whose steps are good to see, even four whose goings are fair:

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Riddle;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Lion, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Proverb, the Book of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Pardon;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Proverbs, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Agur;   Jakeh;   Massa;   Proverb;   Proverbs, Book of;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Four;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Four;   Go;   Number;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Three things are stately in their stride;four are stately in their walk:
Hebrew Names Version
"There are three things which are stately in their march, Four which are stately in going:
King James Version
There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
English Standard Version
Three things are stately in their tread; four are stately in their stride:
New American Standard Bible
There are three things which are stately in their march, Even four which are stately when they walk:
New Century Version
"There are three things that strut proudly, really four that walk as if they were important:
Amplified Bible
There are three things which are stately in step, Even four which are stately in their stride:
World English Bible
"There are three things which are stately in their march, Four which are stately in going:
Geneva Bible (1587)
There be three thinges that order well their going: yea, foure are comely in going,
Legacy Standard Bible
There are three things which are stately in their march,Even four which are stately when they walk:
Berean Standard Bible
There are three things that are stately in their stride, and four that are impressive in their walk:
Contemporary English Version
Three or four creatures really strut around:
Complete Jewish Bible
Three things are stately in their stride, four of stately gait —
Darby Translation
There are three [things] which have a stately step, and four are comely in going:
Easy-to-Read Version
There are three things that act important when they walk—really, there are four:
George Lamsa Translation
There are three things that go well, yea, four are graceful in their going:
Good News Translation
There are four things that are impressive to watch as they walk:
Lexham English Bible
There are three things that are magnificent of stride, and four that are magnificent when moving:
Literal Translation
There are three things that do good in a march; yea, four that do good in walking:
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
There be thre thinges yt go stiffly, but the goinge of the fourth is the goodliest of all.
American Standard Version
There are three things which are stately in their march, Yea, four which are stately in going:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
There are three things which are stately in their march, yea, four which are stately in going:
King James Version (1611)
There be three things which goe well, yea foure are comely in going:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
There be three thynges that go well, yea foure are comely in goyng.
English Revised Version
There be three things which are stately in their march, yea, four which are stately in going:
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Thre thingis ben, that goon wel, and the fourthe thing, that goith richeli.
Update Bible Version
There are three things which are stately in their march, Yes, four which are stately in going:
Webster's Bible Translation
There are three [things] which go well, yes, four are comely in going:
New English Translation
There are three things that are magnificent in their step, four things that move about magnificently:
New King James Version
There are three things which are majestic in pace, Yes, four which are stately in walk:
New Living Translation
There are three things that walk with stately stride— no, four that strut about:
New Life Bible
There are three things which have honor in their steps, even four which show honor in their walk:
New Revised Standard
Three things are stately in their stride; four are stately in their gait:
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Three, things there are which step along well, ye, four, which excel in going:
Douay-Rheims Bible
There are three things, which go well, and the fourth that walketh happily:
Revised Standard Version
Three things are stately in their tread; four are stately in their stride:
Young's Literal Translation
Three there are going well, Yea, four are good in going:
THE MESSAGE
There are three solemn dignitaries, four that are impressive in their bearing— a lion, king of the beasts, deferring to none; a rooster, proud and strutting; a billy goat; a head of state in stately procession.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
There are three things which are stately in their march, Even four which are stately when they walk:

Contextual Overview

29 There are three things whose steps are good to see, even four whose goings are fair: 30 The lion, which is strongest among beasts, not turning from his way for any; 31 The war-horse, and the he-goat, and the king when his army is with him. 32 If you have done foolishly in lifting yourself up, or if you have had evil designs, put your hand over your mouth. 33 The shaking of milk makes butter, and the twisting of the nose makes blood come: so the forcing of wrath is a cause of fighting.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Reciprocal: Proverbs 6:16 - six Proverbs 30:15 - There Micah 5:5 - seven

Cross-References

Genesis 30:5
And Bilhah became with child, and gave birth to a son.
Genesis 30:8
And Rachel said, I have had a great fight with my sister, and I have overcome her: and she gave the child the name Naphtali.
Genesis 30:9
When it was clear to Leah that she would have no more children for a time, she gave Zilpah, her servant, to Jacob as a wife.
Genesis 30:10
And Zilpah, Leah's servant, gave birth to a son.
Genesis 30:22
Then God gave thought to Rachel, and hearing her prayer he made her fertile.
Genesis 30:25
Now after the birth of Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, Let me go away to my place and my country.
Genesis 30:38
And he put the banded sticks in the drinking-places where the flock came to get water; and they became with young when they came to the water.
Genesis 30:40
These lambs Jacob kept separate; and he put his flock in a place by themselves and not with Laban's flock.
Genesis 31:6
And you have seen how I have done all in my power for your father,
Matthew 24:45
Who is the true and wise servant, whom his lord has put over those in his house, to give them their food at the right time?

Gill's Notes on the Bible

There be three [things] which go well,.... In a very orderly and composed manner; with constancy and cheerfulness, with great stateliness and majesty, intrepidly, and without fear;

yea, four are comely in going; very beautiful and lovely to look at as they walk.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 30:29. There be three things which go well — Here is another set of emblems; four things which walk beautifully and with majesty. 1. The Lamentations 2:0; Lamentations 2:0. The greyhound. 3. The he-goat. And, 4. A king.

1. Nothing can be more majestic than the walk of the lion. It is deliberate, equal, firm, and in every respect becoming the king of the forest.

2. The greyhound. זרזיר מתנים zarzir mothnayim, the girt in the loins; but what this beast is we do not distinctly know. It is most likely that this was the greyhound, which in the East are remarkably fine, and very fleet. Scarcely any thing can be conceived to go with greater fleetness, in full chase, than a greyhound with its prey in view: it seems to swim over the earth.

3. The goat, תיש tayish. This is generally allowed to be the he-goat; and how he walks, and what state he assumes, in the presence of his part of the flock, every one knows, who has at all noticed this animal. The ram also, which some suppose to be intended, is both fierce and majestic at the head of the sheep.

4. And a king, against whom there is no rising up. That is, a king whose court, counsels, and troops, are so firmly united to him, as to render all hopes of successful conspiracy against him utterly vain. He walks boldly and majestically about, being safe in the affections of his people. But the Hebrew is singular; it makes but two words; and these are they, ומלך אלקום umelech Alkum, "and King Alkum." It is a doubt whether this may not be a proper name, as Agur abounds in them; see Ithiel, Ucal, and probably Alukah, Proverbs 30:15. But it is said, "We know nothing of a king named Alkum." True; nor do we know any thing of Agur, Ithiel, Ucal, to say nothing of Alukah. And this might have been some remarkable chieftain, who carried his victories wherever he went, and was remarkably fortunate. If, however, we separate the word into אל al, "not," and קום kum, "he arose," we may make the interpretation above given.


 
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