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Proverbs 1:10
World English Bible
Proverbs 1:10
World English Bible
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
don’t consent.
Proverbs 1:10
New English Translation
Proverbs 1:10
New English Translation
Admonition to Avoid Easy but Unjust Riches
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Proverbs 1:10 tn The term חַטָּא (khattaʾ) is the common word for “sinner” in the OT. Because the related verb is used once of sling throwers who miss the mark (Judg 20:16), the idea of sin is often explained as “missing the moral mark” (BDB 306-8 s.v.). But the term should not be restricted to simply falling short of the moral ideal. Its basic meaning is to do wrongly. For a slinger or an archer that would mean missing the mark, but in the arena of morality and relationships, behaving wrongly refers to committing an offense or sinning, doing what is wrong. Here it involves the conscious intent to harm, referring to a gang of robbers.
- Proverbs 1:10 tn The Piel stem of the verb פָּתָה (patah) means “to persuade, entice” (BDB 834 s.v. פָּתָה 1; see, e.g., Judg 14:15; 16:5; Prov 16:29; Hos 2:16). In this context, the imperfect form יְפַתּוּךָ (yefattukha) considers the process of offering persuasion rather than the result of someone being persuaded and may be nuanced modally: “(If) they attempt to persuade you.”
- Proverbs 1:10 tc The MT reads the root אָבָה (ʾavah, “to be willing; to consent”). Some medieval Hebrew mss read the root בּוֹא (boʾ, “to go”): “do not go with them.” The majority of Hebrew mss and the versions support the MT reading, which is the less common word and so the more likely original reading.
Proverbs 1:10
New International Version
Proverbs 1:10
New International Version
Proverbs 4:23-27
World English Bible
Proverbs 4:23-27
World English Bible
23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
for out of it is the wellspring of life.
24 Put away from yourself a perverse mouth.
Put corrupt lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead.
Fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Make the path of your feet level.
Let all of your ways be established.
27 Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left.
Remove your foot from evil.
Proverbs 4:23-27
New English Translation
Proverbs 4:23-27
New English Translation
23 Guard your heart[a] with all vigilance,[b]
for from it are the sources[c] of life.
24 Remove perverse speech[d] from your mouth;[e]
keep devious talk far from your lips.[f]
25 Let your eyes look directly[g] in front of you
and let your gaze[h] look straight before you.
26 Make the path for your feet[i] level,[j]
so that[k] all your ways may be established.[l]
27 Do not turn[m] to the right or to the left;
turn yourself[n] away from evil.[o]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:23 tn Anatomically the Hebrew word לֵב (lev) refers to the “heart.” But abstractly it can refer to one’s inner self, will, understanding, or mind. They did not see the heart and mind in opposition, such that the advice here includes both one’s thinking and feelings.
- Proverbs 4:23 tn Heb “more than any guard.” The preposition מִן (min) has its comparative sense “more than.” The noun מִשְׁמָר (mishmar) refers here to the act of guarding, protection, or vigilance (BDB 1038 s.v. מִשְׁמָר; HALOT 649 s.v. מִשְׁמָר).
- Proverbs 4:23 sn The word תּוֹצְאוֹת (totseʾot, from יָצָא, yatsaʾ) means “outgoings; extremities; sources.” It is used here for starting points, like a fountainhead, and so the translation “sources” works well.
- Proverbs 4:24 tn Heb “crookedness.” The noun עִקְּשׁוּת (ʿiqqeshut) refers to what is morally twisted or perverted. Here it refers to things that are said (cf. NAB “dishonest talk”; NRSV “crooked speech”). The term “mouth” functions as a metonymy of cause for perverse speech. Such perverse talking could be subtle or blatant.
- Proverbs 4:24 tn Heb “crookedness of mouth.”
- Proverbs 4:24 tn Heb “deviousness of lips put far from you.”
- Proverbs 4:25 tn The jussives in this verse are both Hiphil, the first from the verb “to gaze; to look intently [or, carefully],” (נָבַט, navat) and the second from the verb “to be smooth, straight” (יָשָׁר, yashar).
- Proverbs 4:25 tn Heb “your eyelids.” The term “eyelids” is often a poetic synonym for “eye” (it is a metonymy of adjunct, something connected with the eye put for the eye that sees); it may intensify the idea as one might squint to gain a clearer look.
- Proverbs 4:26 tn Heb “path of your foot.”
- Proverbs 4:26 sn The verb is a denominative Piel from the word פֶּלֶס (peles), “balance; scale.” In addition to telling the disciple to keep focused on a righteous life, the sage tells him to keep his path level, which is figurative for living the righteous life.
- Proverbs 4:26 tn Following an imperative, a vav plus imperfect verb can depict purpose or result.
- Proverbs 4:26 tn The Niphal jussive from כּוּן (kun, “to be fixed; to be established; to be steadfast”) continues the idiom of walking and ways for the moral sense in life.
- Proverbs 4:27 sn The two verbs in this verse are from different roots, but nonetheless share the same semantic domain. The first verb is תֵּט (tet), a jussive from נָטָה (natah), which means “to turn aside” (Hiphil); the second verb is the Hiphil imperative of סוּר (sur), which means “to cause to turn to the side” (Hiphil). The disciple is not to leave the path of righteousness, but to stay on the path he must leave evil.
- Proverbs 4:27 tn Heb “your foot” (so NAB, NIV, NRSV). The term רַגְלְךָ (raglekha, “your foot”) is a synecdoche of part (= foot) for the whole person (= “yourself”).
- Proverbs 4:27 tc The LXX adds, “For the way of the right hand God knows, but those of the left hand are distorted; and he himself will make straight your paths and guide your goings in peace.” The ideas presented here are not out of harmony with Proverbs, but the section clearly shows an expansion by the translator. For a brief discussion of whether this addition is Jewish or early Christian, see C. H. Toy, Proverbs (ICC), 99.
Proverbs 4:23-27
New International Version
Proverbs 4:23-27
New International Version
23 Above all else, guard(A) your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.(B)
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes(C) look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[a] paths for your feet(D)
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;(E)
keep your foot from evil.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:26 Or Make level
Proverbs 10:9
World English Bible
Proverbs 10:9
World English Bible
9 He who walks blamelessly walks surely,
but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
Proverbs 10:9
New English Translation
Proverbs 10:9
New English Translation
9 The one who conducts himself[a] in integrity[b] will live[c] securely,
but the one who behaves perversely[d] will be found out.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:9 tn Heb “he who walks.” The idiom is used widely in both OT and NT for conduct, behavior, or lifestyle.
- Proverbs 10:9 sn “Integrity” here means “blameless” in conduct. Security follows integrity, because the lifestyle is blameless. The righteous is certain of the course to be followed and does not fear retribution from man or God.
- Proverbs 10:9 tn Heb “walks.”
- Proverbs 10:9 tn Heb “he who perverts his ways” (so NASB); NIV “who takes crooked paths” (NLT similar). The Piel participle מְעַקֵּשׁ (meʿaqqesh) means “make crooked; twisted; perverse.” It is stronger than simply taking crooked paths; it refers to perverting the ways. The one who is devious will not get away with it.
Proverbs 10:9
New International Version
Proverbs 10:9
New International Version
Proverbs 11:5-6
World English Bible
Proverbs 11:5-6
World English Bible
5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way,
but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them,
but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
Proverbs 11:5-6
New English Translation
Proverbs 11:5-6
New English Translation
5 The righteousness of the blameless will make their way smooth,[a]
but the wicked will fall through their own wickedness.[b]
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,[c]
but the treacherous will be ensnared[d] by their own desires.[e]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:5 tn The Piel form of the verb יָשַׁר (yashar) means “to make straight, smooth or easy.” The concrete image is about making a road level and smooth; it represents an easier way of life. It does not mean an easy life in all respects, but means that integrity removes some obstacles and hardships in life, and integrity is the right choice for how to live.
- Proverbs 11:5 sn The wicked may think that they can make their way through life easier by their wickedness, but instead it will at some point bring them down.tn The masculine singular pronouns have been replaces with third person plural pronouns for the sake of style.
- Proverbs 11:6 sn The contrast is between being rescued or delivered (נָצַל, natsal) and being captured (לָכַד, lakhad). Righteousness is freeing; [evil] desires are enslaving.
- Proverbs 11:6 tn The verb לָכַד (lakhad) means “to capture, trap, overpower.” Here it is passive; cf. NIV, TEV “are trapped,” NASB, NKJV “caught,” ESV, NRSV “taken captive.”
- Proverbs 11:6 tc The Hebrew text has the singular construct form וּבְהַוַּת (uvehavvat) which may be from I הַוָּה (havvah, “desire of”) or II הַוָּה (havvah, “disaster of, destruction of”). The line would read “but in the desire of…” (cf. NLT “the ambition of… entraps them”) or “but in the disaster of the treacherous they will be caught.” The BHS editors propose repointing the word to the plural absolute form וּבְהַוֹּת (uvehavvot) resulting in “the treacherous will be ensnared in [their] desires” or “the treacherous will be caught in disasters.” The LXX has a singular form, but it does not represent a Hebrew construct form and not necessarily the same word as the MT: “ungodliness will fall into [the hands of] unrighteousness” or “encounters injustice.”
Proverbs 11:5-6
New International Version
Proverbs 11:5-6
New International Version
5 The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,(A)
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.(B)
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.(C)
Proverbs 14:12
World English Bible
Proverbs 14:12
World English Bible
12 There is a way which seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.
Proverbs 14:12
New English Translation
Proverbs 14:12
New English Translation
Read full chapter
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:12 tn Heb “which is straight before a man.”sn The proverb contrasts the roadway with the road’s destination. The pathway immediately ahead is straight and smooth, easy to travel. So it would seem like a good path to follow, except that it’s destination is destruction. One view of the proverb is that the straight road represents wickedness that is disguised or rationalized. Another is that the sage recognizes the ambiguities of life; even when good judgment is used with regard to what a person can see, things may may still turn out quite badly.
- Proverbs 14:12 tn Or “but after it are the ways of death.” The phrase “ways of death” features the result of these paths. Here death means ruin (cf. Prov 7:27). Possibly the proverb envisions that the initial path which seemed good leads to other paths whose outcomes are all ruinous. tc The LXX seems to take דַּרְכֵי (darkhe, “ways of”) as יַרְכְּתֵי (yarkete, “depths/recesses of”) and renders “the depths of Hades,” but the verse seems to be concerned with events of this life.
Proverbs 14:12
New International Version
Proverbs 14:12
New International Version
Proverbs 14:16
World English Bible
Proverbs 14:16
World English Bible
16 A wise man fears and shuns evil,
but the fool is hot headed and reckless.
Proverbs 14:16
New English Translation
Proverbs 14:16
New English Translation
16 A wise person is cautious[a] and turns from evil,
but a fool throws off restraint[b] and is overconfident.[c]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:16 tn Heb “fears.” Since the holy name (Yahweh, translated “the Lord”) is not used, it probably does not here mean fear of the Lord, but of the consequences of actions.
- Proverbs 14:16 tn The Hitpael of עָבַר (ʿavar, “to pass over”) means “to pass over the bounds of propriety; to act insolently” (BDB 720 s.v.; cf. ASV “beareth himself insolently”).
- Proverbs 14:16 tn The verb בָּטַח here denotes self-assurance or overconfidence. Fools are not cautious and do not fear the consequences of their actions.
Proverbs 14:16
New International Version
Proverbs 14:16
New International Version
Proverbs 14:22
World English Bible
Proverbs 14:22
World English Bible
22 Don’t they go astray who plot evil?
But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
Proverbs 14:22
New English Translation
Proverbs 14:22
New English Translation
22 Do not those who devise[a] evil go astray?
But those who plan good exhibit[b] faithful covenant love.[c]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:22 sn The verb חָרַשׁ (kharash) means (1) literally: “to cut in; to engrave; to plow,” describing the work of a craftsman; and (2) figuratively: “to devise,” describing the mental activity of planning evil (what will harm people) in the first colon, and planning good (what will benefit them) in the second colon.
- Proverbs 14:22 tn The term “exhibit” does not appear in the Hebrew, but is implied by the antithetic parallelism and supplied in the translation for clarity and smoothness.
- Proverbs 14:22 tn Heb “loyal-love and truth.” The two terms חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת (khesed veʾemet) often form a hendiadys: “faithful love” or better “faithful covenant love.”
Proverbs 14:22
New International Version
Proverbs 14:22
New International Version
Proverbs 15:3
World English Bible
Proverbs 15:3
World English Bible
3 Yahweh’s eyes are everywhere,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
Proverbs 15:3
New English Translation
Proverbs 15:3
New English Translation
3 The eyes of the Lord[a] are in every place,
keeping watch on[b] those who are evil and those who are good.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:3 sn The proverb uses anthropomorphic language to describe God’s exacting and evaluating knowledge of all people.
- Proverbs 15:3 tn The form צֹפוֹת (tsofot, “watching”) is a feminine plural participle agreeing with “eyes.” God’s watching eyes comfort good people but convict evil.
Proverbs 15:3
New International Version
Proverbs 15:3
New International Version
Proverbs 16:6
World English Bible
Proverbs 16:6
World English Bible
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for.
By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.
Proverbs 16:6
New English Translation
Proverbs 16:6
New English Translation
6 Through loyal love and truth[a] iniquity is appeased;[b]
through fearing the Lord[c] one avoids[d] evil.[e]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:6 sn These two words are often found together to form a nominal hendiadys: “faithful loyal love.” The couplet often characterizes the Lord, but here in parallel to the fear of the Lord it refers to the faithfulness of the believer. Such faith and faithfulness bring atonement for sin.
- Proverbs 16:6 tn Heb “is atoned”; KJV “is purged”; NAB “is expiated.” The verb is from I כָּפַר (kafar, “to atone; to expiate; to pacify; to appease”; HALOT 493-94 s.v. I כפר). This root should not be confused with the identically spelled Homonym II כָּפַר (kafar, “to cover over”; HALOT 494 s.v. II *כפר). Atonement in the OT expiated sins, it did not merely cover them over (cf. NLT). C. H. Toy explains the meaning by saying it affirms that the divine anger against sin is turned away and man’s relation to God is as though he had not sinned (Proverbs [ICC], 322). Genuine repentance, demonstrated by loyalty and truthfulness, appeases the anger of God against one’s sin.
- Proverbs 16:6 tn Heb “fear of the Lord.” The term יְהוָה (yehvah, “the Lord”) functions as an objective genitive: “fearing the Lord.”
- Proverbs 16:6 tn Heb “turns away from”; NASB “keeps away from.”
- Proverbs 16:6 sn The Hebrew word translated “evil” (רַע, raʿ) can in some contexts mean “calamity” or “disaster,” but here it seems more likely to mean “evil” in the sense of sin. Faithfulness to the Lord brings freedom from sin. The verse uses synonymous parallelism with a variant: One half speaks of atonement for sin because of the life of faith, and the other of avoidance of sin because of the fear of the Lord.
Proverbs 16:6
New International Version
Proverbs 16:6
New International Version
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