As
we all know, there’s a ton of walking in the Bible. And Proverbs 10:9 has something very definite
to say, although the specifics of what that something is vary considerably depending
on the translation.
Those of us who like language and literature, as well as walking, might be interested in the ways that an apparently very simple thought has been molded by various translators. I had always assumed the King James would get it spot on, but now I’m not so sure.
He that walketh uprightly
walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
Look, I reckon I walk “uprightly,” I mean my
posture could be better, but whose couldn’t?
And I don’t reckon I’m a man who “perverteth his ways,”
certainly not while walking, and surely if you believe in an all-knowing deity,
all your ways shall be known anyway, right?
As you see below, various hands have taken a stab
at changing the language, insisting on “integrity” while walking though
sometimes “safely” or securely” or blamelessly,” which strike me as a bunch of
different things, but then also there’s an insistence on rejecting the “crooked
path.”
I mean OK, I know it’s a metaphor and all, but really I do enjoy walking the occasional crooked path, and honestly I don’t
think that makes me a pervert. Others,
evidently, take a different view. Here are some translated variations, a couple of which don't even include the walking aspect all:
Whoever walks in integrity
walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
People with integrity walk
safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall.
Whoever walks in integrity
walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
He who walks in integrity
walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out.
The one who lives with
integrity lives securely, but whoever perverts his ways will be found out.
Whoever walks in integrity
lives prudently, but whoever perverts his way of life will be exposed.
The one who conducts
himself in integrity will live securely, but the one who behaves perversely
will be found out.
He that walks in perfection
goes in hope, and he who perverts his ways will be known.
Whoever lives honestly will
live securely, but whoever lives dishonestly will be found out.
He that walks in integrity
walks securely, but he that perverts his ways shall be broken.
He that walks uprightly
walks securely: but he that perverts his ways shall be known.
He that walks uprightly
walks surely: but he that perverts his ways shall be known.
He that walketh uprightly
walketh surely; But he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
He that walketh sincerely,
walketh confidently: but he that perverteth his ways, shall be manifest.
He that walketh in
integrity walketh securely; but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
He that walketh uprightly
walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
He that walketh uprightly
walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
He who walks blamelessly
walks surely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
Whoso is walking in
integrity walketh confidently, And whoso is perverting his ways is known.
Language and walking and
metaphors; it’s a minefield innit?
