Proverbs 17:17
New English Translation
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:17 sn The verse uses synonymous parallelism, so “friend” and “relative” are equated. Others, however, will take the verse with antithetical parallelism: W. G. Plaut argues that friendship is a spiritual relationship whereas a brother’s ties are based on a blood relationship—often adversity is the only thing that brings brothers together (Proverbs, 189).
- Proverbs 17:17 tn Heb “a brother.”
- Proverbs 17:17 tn Heb “is born for adversity.” This is not referring to sibling rivalry but to the loyalty a brother shows during times of calamity. This is not to say that a brother only shows loyalty when there is trouble, nor that he always does in these times (e.g., 18:19, 24; 19:7; 27:10). The true friend is the same as a brotherly relation—in times of greatest need the loyal love is displayed.
Proverbs 17:17
American Standard Version
17 A friend loveth at all times;
And [a]a brother is born for adversity.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:17 Or, is born as a brother
Proverbs 17:17
New International Version
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.(A)
Proverbs 18:19
New English Translation
19 A relative[a] offended[b] is harder to reach than[c] a strong city,
and disputes are like the barred gates[d] of a fortified citadel.[e]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:19 tn Heb “brother,” but this is not limited to actual siblings (cf. NRSV “an ally”; CEV, NLT “friend”).
- Proverbs 18:19 tn The Niphal participle from פָּשַׁע (pashaʿ) modifies “brother”: a brother transgressed, offended, sinned against.
- Proverbs 18:19 tc The LXX has a clear antithetical proverb here: “A brother helped is like a stronghold, but disputes are like bars of a citadel.” Accordingly, the editors of BHS propose מוֹשִׁיעַ (moshiaʿ) instead of נִפְשָׁע (nifshaʿ, so also the other versions and the RSV). But since both lines use the comparison with a citadel (fortified/barred), the antithesis is problematic. tn The phrase “is harder to reach” is supplied in the translation on the basis of the comparative מִן (min). It is difficult to get into a fortified city; it is more difficult to reach an offended brother.
- Proverbs 18:19 tn Heb “bars,” but this could be understood to mean “taverns,” so “barred gates” is employed in the translation.
- Proverbs 18:19 sn The proverb is talking about changing a friend or a relative into an enemy by abuse or strife—the bars go up, as it were. And the “walls” that are erected are not easily torn down.
Proverbs 18:19
American Standard Version
19 A brother [a]offended is harder to be won than a strong city;
And such contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:19 Or, injured
Proverbs 18:19
New International Version
19 A brother wronged(A) is more unyielding than a fortified city;
disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
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