Proverbs 11:6
New English Translation
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,[a]
but the treacherous will be ensnared[b] by their own desires.[c]
Footnotes
- 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 11:6
New American Standard Bible
6 The righteousness of the upright will rescue them,
But the treacherous will (A)be caught by their own greed.
Proverbs 11:6
New International Version
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.(A)
Proverbs 12:12
New English Translation
12 The wicked person has desired[a] the stronghold[b] of the wicked,
but the root of the righteous will yield fruit.[c]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:12 sn The contrast includes a contrast of verb forms, here the perfect verb “has desired,” next the imperfect verb “will yield [fruit].” The perfect verb leaves the wicked at the point of desire for a goal. He or she has [only] desired, but there is no implication of achievement. In contrast the righteous are described not in terms of their goal or desire, but their root, implying their foundation or character. Their focus is different but their root will yield fruit or be productive.
- Proverbs 12:12 tn This line is difficult to interpret. BDB connects the term מְצוֹד (metsod) to II מָצוֹד which means (1) “snare; hunting-net” and (2) what is caught: “prey” (BDB 844-45 s.v. II מָצוֹד). This would function as a metonymy of cause for what the net catches: the prey. Or it may be saying that the wicked get caught in their own net, that is, reap the consequences of their own sins. On the other hand, HALOT 622 connects מְצוֹד (metsod) to II מְצוּדָה (metsudah, “mountain stronghold”; cf. NAB “the stronghold of evil men will be demolished”). The LXX translated it as: “The desires of the wicked are evil.” The Syriac has: “The wicked desire to do evil.” The Latin expands it: “The desire of the wicked is a defense of the worst [things, or persons].” C. H. Toy suggests emending the text to read “wickedness is the net of bad men” (Proverbs [ICC], 250).
- Proverbs 12:12 tc The MT reads יִתֵּן (yitten, “will give; gives,” without a direct object: “the root of the righteous gives.” The LXX reads “the root of the righteous endures” (cf. NAB). This suggests a Hebrew Vorlage of אֵיתָן (ʾetan, “constant; continual”; HALOT 44-45 s.v. I אֵיתָן 2) which would involve the omission of א (ʾalef) in the MT.tn Heb “will give/yield.” The verb נָתַן (natan) is used elsewhere in the phrase to “produce fruit” (e.g. Lev 25:19 of the land; Zech 8:12 of the vine). Yielding fruit can be a natural implication of healthy roots (cf. Ps. 1:3; Isa 11:1; Jer 12:2). The sage has probably left out specific mention of the word “fruit” to heighten the contrast between desiring a goal and receiving a result which is the byproduct of good character. However the omission may imply a text critical problem.
Proverbs 12:12
New American Standard Bible
12 The (A)wicked person desires the [a]plunder of evil people,
But the root of the righteous (B)yields fruit.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:12 Lit net (for trapping prey); another reading is mountain stronghold
Proverbs 12:12
New International Version
12 The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous endures.
Proverbs 20:21
New English Translation
Footnotes
- Proverbs 20:21 tc The Kethib reads מְבֻחֶלֶת (mebukhelet), “gotten by greed” (based on a cognate Syriac verb, “to be greedy”), but the Qere is מְבֹהֶלֶת (mevohelet), “gotten hastily [or, quickly].” A large number of mss and the ancient versions read with the Qere (cf. KJV, ASV “gotten hastily”; NAB “gained hastily”; NIV “quickly gained”; NRSV “quickly acquired”).sn If the inheritance is obtained quickly, it could mean prematurely (e.g., Luke 15:12) or cruelly (Prov 19:26). The inheritance is gained without labor or without preparation.
- Proverbs 20:21 tn The form is the Pual imperfect, “will not be blessed,” suggesting that divine justice is at work. sn The Hebrew verb means “enriched, made fruitful, prospered.” Whatever the inheritance was, it will not reach its full potential or even remain permanent.
- Proverbs 20:21 tn Heb “in its end”; KJV, ASV “the end thereof.”
Proverbs 20:21
New American Standard Bible
21 An inheritance gained in a hurry at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end.
Proverbs 20:21
New International Version
21 An inheritance claimed too soon
will not be blessed at the end.
Proverbs 21:5
New English Translation
5 The plans of the diligent[a] lead[b] only to plenty,[c]
but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.[d]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:5 tn The word “diligent” is an adjective used substantivally. The related verb means “to cut, sharpen, decide”; so the adjective describes one who is “sharp”—one who acts decisively. The word “hasty” has the idea of being pressed or pressured into quick actions. So the text contrasts calculated expeditiousness with unproductive haste. C. H. Toy does not like this contrast, and so proposes changing the latter to “lazy” (Proverbs [ICC], 399), but W. McKane rightly criticizes that as unnecessarily forming a pedestrian antithesis (Proverbs [OTL], 550).
- Proverbs 21:5 tn The term “lead” is supplied in the translation.
- Proverbs 21:5 tn The Hebrew noun translated “plenty” comes from the verb יָתַר (yatar), which means “to remain over.” So the calculated diligence will lead to abundance, prosperity.
- Proverbs 21:5 tn Heb “lack; need; thing needed”; NRSV “to want.”
Proverbs 21:5
New American Standard Bible
5 The plans of the (A)diligent certainly lead to advantage,
But everyone (B)who is in a hurry certainly comes to poverty.
Proverbs 21:5
New International Version
5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit(A)
as surely as haste leads to poverty.
Proverbs 21:20
New English Translation
20 There is desirable treasure and olive oil[a] in the dwelling of the wise,
but a foolish person[b] devours all he has.[c]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:20 tn The mention of “olive oil” (שֶׁמֶן, shemen) is problematic in the line—how can a fool devour it? Several attempts have been made to alleviate the problem. The NIV interprets “treasure” as “choice food,” so that food and oil would make more sense being swallowed. C. H. Toy (Proverbs [ICC], 406) suggests dropping “oil” altogether based on the reading in the LXX, but the Greek is too general for any support: It has “precious treasure will rest on the mouth of the sage.” W. McKane wants to change “oil” to an Arabic word “expensive” to read “desirable and rare wealth” (Proverbs [OTL], 552), but this idea does not match the metaphor any better. The figure of “devouring” in the second line simply means the fool uses up whatever he has.
- Proverbs 21:20 tn Heb “a fool of a man.”
- Proverbs 21:20 tn Heb “he swallows it.” The imagery compares swallowing food with consuming one’s substance. The fool does not prepare for the future.
Proverbs 21:20
New American Standard Bible
20 There is precious (A)treasure and oil in the home of the wise,
But a foolish person (B)swallows it up.
Proverbs 21:20
New International Version
20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
but fools gulp theirs down.
Proverbs 21:20
New English Translation
20 There is desirable treasure and olive oil[a] in the dwelling of the wise,
but a foolish person[b] devours all he has.[c]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:20 tn The mention of “olive oil” (שֶׁמֶן, shemen) is problematic in the line—how can a fool devour it? Several attempts have been made to alleviate the problem. The NIV interprets “treasure” as “choice food,” so that food and oil would make more sense being swallowed. C. H. Toy (Proverbs [ICC], 406) suggests dropping “oil” altogether based on the reading in the LXX, but the Greek is too general for any support: It has “precious treasure will rest on the mouth of the sage.” W. McKane wants to change “oil” to an Arabic word “expensive” to read “desirable and rare wealth” (Proverbs [OTL], 552), but this idea does not match the metaphor any better. The figure of “devouring” in the second line simply means the fool uses up whatever he has.
- Proverbs 21:20 tn Heb “a fool of a man.”
- Proverbs 21:20 tn Heb “he swallows it.” The imagery compares swallowing food with consuming one’s substance. The fool does not prepare for the future.
Proverbs 21:20
New American Standard Bible
20 There is precious (A)treasure and oil in the home of the wise,
But a foolish person (B)swallows it up.
Proverbs 21:20
New International Version
20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
but fools gulp theirs down.
Proverbs 23:4
New English Translation
4 Do not wear yourself out to become rich;
be wise enough to restrain yourself.[a]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 23:4 tn Heb “from your understanding cease.” In the context this means that the person should have enough understanding to stop wearing himself out trying to be rich (cf. NRSV “be wise enough to desist”).
Proverbs 23:4
New American Standard Bible
Footnotes
- Proverbs 23:4 Lit Refrain from your understanding of it
Proverbs 23:4
New International Version
Saying 8
4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
do not trust your own cleverness.
Proverbs 27:20
New English Translation
20 As[a] Death and Destruction are never satisfied,[b]
so the eyes of a person[c] are never satisfied.[d]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 27:20 tn The term “as” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation in light of the analogy.
- Proverbs 27:20 sn Countless generations of people have gone into the world below; yet “death” is never satisfied—it always takes more. The line personifies Death and Destruction. It forms the emblem in the parallelism.
- Proverbs 27:20 tn Heb “eyes of a man.” This expression refers to the desires—what the individual looks longingly on. Ecclesiastes Rabbah 1:34 (one of the rabbinic Midrashim) says, “No man dies and has one-half of what he wanted.”
- Proverbs 27:20 tc The LXX contains a scribal addition: “He who fixes his eye is an abomination to the Lord, and the uninstructed do not restrain their tongues.” This is unlikely to be original.
Proverbs 27:20
New American Standard Bible
20 [a](A)Sheol and [b]Abaddon are (B)never satisfied,
Nor are the (C)eyes of a person ever satisfied.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 27:20 I.e., The netherworld
- Proverbs 27:20 I.e., the place of destruction
Proverbs 27:20
New International Version
Footnotes
- Proverbs 27:20 Hebrew Abaddon
Proverbs 27:20
New English Translation
20 As[a] Death and Destruction are never satisfied,[b]
so the eyes of a person[c] are never satisfied.[d]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 27:20 tn The term “as” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation in light of the analogy.
- Proverbs 27:20 sn Countless generations of people have gone into the world below; yet “death” is never satisfied—it always takes more. The line personifies Death and Destruction. It forms the emblem in the parallelism.
- Proverbs 27:20 tn Heb “eyes of a man.” This expression refers to the desires—what the individual looks longingly on. Ecclesiastes Rabbah 1:34 (one of the rabbinic Midrashim) says, “No man dies and has one-half of what he wanted.”
- Proverbs 27:20 tc The LXX contains a scribal addition: “He who fixes his eye is an abomination to the Lord, and the uninstructed do not restrain their tongues.” This is unlikely to be original.
Proverbs 27:20
New American Standard Bible
20 [a](A)Sheol and [b]Abaddon are (B)never satisfied,
Nor are the (C)eyes of a person ever satisfied.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 27:20 I.e., The netherworld
- Proverbs 27:20 I.e., the place of destruction
Proverbs 27:20
New International Version
Footnotes
- Proverbs 27:20 Hebrew Abaddon
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.