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Proverbs 15:6
New English Translation
Proverbs 15:6
New English Translation
6 In the house of the righteous is abundant wealth,[a]
but the income of the wicked will be ruined.[b]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:6 sn The Hebrew noun חֹסֶן (khosen) means “wealth; treasure.” Prosperity is the reward for righteousness. This is true only in so far as a proverb can be carried in its application, allowing for exceptions. The Greek text for this verse has no reference for wealth, but talks about amassing righteousness.
- Proverbs 15:6 tn Heb “being ruined.” The Niphal participle of עָכַר (ʿakhar; “to disturb, trouble, ruin”) may be understood substantivally, meaning “disturbance, calamity” (BDB 747 s.v. עָכַר) or a “thing troubled,” thus perhaps “[it] is ruined/ruinous.” Or it may be viewed verbally, “will be ruined” (HALOT 824 s.v. עכר nif). The LXX translates “will be ruined.”
Proverbs 15:6
Legacy Standard Bible
Proverbs 15:6
Legacy Standard Bible
6 The house of the (A)righteous has much treasure,
But in the income of the wicked there is trouble.
Proverbs 15:6
New International Version
Proverbs 15:6
New International Version
Proverbs 15:16-17
New English Translation
Proverbs 15:16-17
New English Translation
16 Better[a] is little with the fear of the Lord
than great wealth and turmoil[b] with it.[c]
17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love[d]
than a fattened ox where there is hatred.[e]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:16 sn One of the frequent characteristics of wisdom literature is the “better” saying; it is a comparison of different but similar things to determine which is to be preferred. These two verses focus on spiritual things being better than troubled material things.
- Proverbs 15:16 sn Turmoil refers to anxiety; the fear of the Lord alleviates anxiety, for it brings with it contentment and confidence.
- Proverbs 15:16 sn Not all wealth has turmoil with it. But the proverb is focusing on the comparison of two things—fear of the Lord with little and wealth with turmoil. Between these two, the former is definitely better.
- Proverbs 15:17 tn Heb “and love there.” This clause is a circumstantial clause introduced with vav, that becomes “where there is love.” The same construction is used in the second colon.
- Proverbs 15:17 sn Again the saying concerns troublesome wealth: Loving relationships with simple food are better than a feast where there is hatred. The ideal, of course, would be loving family and friends with a great meal in addition, but this proverb is only comparing two things.
Proverbs 15:16-17
Legacy Standard Bible
Proverbs 15:16-17
Legacy Standard Bible
16 (A)Better is a little with the [a]fear of Yahweh
Than great treasure and turmoil with it.
17 (B)Better is a [b]dish of [c]vegetables where there is love
Than a (C)fattened ox and hatred in it.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:16 Or reverence
- Proverbs 15:17 Or portion
- Proverbs 15:17 Or herbs
Proverbs 15:16-17
New International Version
Proverbs 15:16-17
New International Version
16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great wealth with turmoil.(A)
17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love
than a fattened calf with hatred.(B)
Proverbs 16:20
New English Translation
Proverbs 16:20
New English Translation
20 The one who deals wisely[a] in a matter[b] will find success,[c]
and blessed[d] is the one who trusts in the Lord.[e]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:20 tn Heb “he who is prudent” or “he who deals wisely” (cf. KJV). The proverb seems to be referring to wise business concerns and the reward for the righteous. One who deals wisely in a matter will find good results. R. N. Whybray sees a contrast here: “The shrewd man of business will succeed well, but the happy man is he who trusts the Lord” (Proverbs [CBC], 92). Synonymous parallelism is more appropriate.
- Proverbs 16:20 tn Or “he who gives heed to a word,” that is, “who listens to instruction” (cf. NIV, NLT).
- Proverbs 16:20 tn Heb “good” (so KJV, ASV).
- Proverbs 16:20 tn Although traditionally this word is translated “happy” (cf. KJV, ASV, NAB, NRSV, NLT), such a translation can be misleading because the word means far more than that. It describes the heavenly bliss that comes from knowing one is right with God and following God’s precepts. The “blessed” could be at odds with the world (Ps 1:1-3).
- Proverbs 16:20 tn Heb “and the one who trusts in the Lord—blessed is he.”
Proverbs 16:20
Legacy Standard Bible
Proverbs 16:20
Legacy Standard Bible
Proverbs 16:20
New International Version
Proverbs 16:20
New International Version
Proverbs 18:11
New English Translation
Proverbs 18:11
New English Translation
11 The wealth[a] of a rich person is like[b] a strong city,[c]
and it is like a high wall in his imagination.[d]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:11 sn This proverb forms a contrast with the previous one. The rich, unlike the righteous, trust in wealth and not in God.
- Proverbs 18:11 tn The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied for the sake of clarity.
- Proverbs 18:11 tn Heb “city of his strength”; NIV “fortified city.” This term refers to their place of refuge, what they look to for security and protection in time of trouble.
- Proverbs 18:11 tc The MT reads בְּמַשְׂכִּיתוֹ (bemaskito, “in his imaginations”). The LXX, Tg. Prov 18:11, and the Latin reflect בִּמְשֻׂכָּתוֹ (bimsukkato, “like a fence [or, high wall]”) that is, wealth provides protection. The MT reading, on the other hand, suggests that this security is only in the mind.tn The proverb is an observation saying, reporting a common assumption without commenting on it. The juxtaposition with the last verse is a loud criticism of this misguided faith. The final word בְּמַשְׂכִּיתוֹ (bemaskito, “in his imaginations”) indicates that one’s wealth is a futile place of refuge.
Proverbs 18:11
Legacy Standard Bible
Proverbs 18:11
Legacy Standard Bible
11 A (A)rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own delusion.
Proverbs 18:11
New International Version
Proverbs 18:11
New International Version
11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;(A)
they imagine it a wall too high to scale.
Proverbs 19:4
New English Translation
Proverbs 19:4
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:4 tn The Niphal imperfect probably should be taken in the passive sense (the poor person is deserted by his “friend,” cf. NAB, NIV) rather than as a direct middle (the poor person deserted his friend).
- Proverbs 19:4 sn This proverb simply makes an observation on life: People pursue wealthy folk hoping that they can gain something from the rich, but the poor are deserted even by friends, who fear that the poor will try to gain something from them.
Proverbs 19:4
Legacy Standard Bible
Proverbs 19:4
Legacy Standard Bible
4 (A)Wealth adds many friends,
But a poor man is separated from his friend.
Proverbs 19:4
New International Version
Proverbs 19:4
New International Version
4 Wealth attracts many friends,
but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.(A)
Proverbs 20:21
New English Translation
Proverbs 20:21
New English Translation
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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
Legacy Standard Bible
Proverbs 20:21
Legacy Standard Bible
21 An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning
In the end will not be blessed.
Proverbs 20:21
New International Version
Proverbs 20:21
New International Version
21 An inheritance claimed too soon
will not be blessed at the end.
Proverbs 21:5-6
New English Translation
Proverbs 21:5-6
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]
6 Making a fortune[e] by a lying tongue is like[f] a vapor driven back and forth;[g]
they seek death.[h]
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 21:6 tn The first word of the verse is the noun meaning “doing, deed, work.” The BHS editors suggest reading with the LXX an active participle—“the one who makes” (cf. NAB “He who makes”). The second word means “treasure,” from the verb “lay up, store up.” It is an objective genitive here.
- Proverbs 21:6 tn The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied for the sake of clarity.
- Proverbs 21:6 tn The Hebrew הֶבֶל נִדָּף (hevel niddaf) is properly “a driven vapor” (“driven” = the Niphal participle). The point of the metaphor is that the ill-gotten gains will vanish into thin air. The LXX has “pursues” (as if reading רֹדֵף, rodef); cf. NAB “chasing a bubble over deadly snares.”
- Proverbs 21:6 tn The Hebrew has “seekers of death,” meaning “[they that seek them] are seekers of death,” or that the fortune is “a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.” The sense is not readily apparent. The Greek and the Latin versions have “snares of death”; the form מוֹקְשֵׁי (moqeshe) was read instead of מְבַקְשֵׁי (mevaqqeshe). This reading does not make a more credible metaphor, and one must explain the loss of the letter ב (bet) in the textual variant. It is, however, slightly easier to interpret in the verse, and is followed by a number of English versions (e.g., NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT). But whether the easier reading is the correct one in this case would be difficult to prove.
Proverbs 21:5-6
Legacy Standard Bible
Proverbs 21:5-6
Legacy Standard Bible
5 The [a]thoughts of the (A)diligent lead surely to profit,
But everyone (B)who is hasty comes surely to poverty.
6 (C)Working for treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting breath, by those who pursue (D)death.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:5 Or plans
Proverbs 21:5-6
New International Version
Proverbs 21:5-6
New International Version
5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit(A)
as surely as haste leads to poverty.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
Proverbs 22:4
New English Translation
Proverbs 22:4
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 22:4 tn The Hebrew term עֵקֶב (ʿeqev, “reward”) is related to the term meaning “heel”; it refers to the consequences or the reward that follows (akin to the English expression “on the heels of”).
- Proverbs 22:4 tn “Humility” is used here in the religious sense of “piety”; it is appropriately joined with “the fear of the Lord.” Some commentators, however, make “the fear of the Lord” the first in the series of rewards for humility, but that arrangement is less likely here.
- Proverbs 22:4 tn Heb “the fear of the Lord.” This is an objective genitive; the Lord is the object of the fear.
Proverbs 22:4
Legacy Standard Bible
Proverbs 22:4
Legacy Standard Bible
4 The reward of humility—the [a]fear of Yahweh—
Is riches, glory, and life.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 22:4 Or reverence
Proverbs 22:4
New International Version
Proverbs 22:4
New International Version
Proverbs 22:7
New English Translation
Proverbs 22:7
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 22:7 sn The proverb is making an observation on life. The synonymous parallelism matches “rule over” with “servant” to show how poverty makes people dependent on, or obligated to, others.
- Proverbs 22:7 tn Or “slave” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV, TEV, CEV). This may refer to the practice in Israel of people selling themselves into slavery to pay off debts (Exod 21:2-7).
Proverbs 22:7
Legacy Standard Bible
Proverbs 22:7
Legacy Standard Bible
7 The (A)rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is the slave of the lender.
Proverbs 22:7
New International Version
Proverbs 22:7
New International Version
7 The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender.
New English Translation (NET)
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