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Proverbs 2:10-11
New English Translation
Proverbs 2:10-11
New English Translation
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,[a]
and moral knowledge[b] will be attractive[c] to you.[d]
11 Discretion[e] will protect you,[f]
understanding will guard you,
Footnotes
- Proverbs 2:10 tn The noun לֵב (lev, “heart”) functions as a metonymy of association for “mind” and “thoughts” (BDB 524 s.v. 3). It represents the center of the inner life where the volition and emotions join to bring about actions. It is used here in parallelism with נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “soul”), for which see note.
- Proverbs 2:10 tn Heb “knowledge.” For the noun דַּעַת (daʿat), see the note on 1:7.
- Proverbs 2:10 tn Heb “pleasant.” The verb יִנְעָם (yinʿam, “to be pleasant”) describes what is attractive. It is used of being physically attracted to one’s lover (Song 7:7) or to a close friendship (2 Sam 1:26). Here wisdom becomes attractive to the righteous, that is, the righteous desires to acquire it.
- Proverbs 2:10 tn Heb “your soul.” The term נַפְשְׁךָ (nafshekha, “your soul”) functions as a synecdoche of part (= soul) for the whole person (= you); see BDB 660 s.v. 4.a.2. It also might function as a metonymy of association for emotions and passions (BDB 660 s.v. 6) or mental cognition (BDB 660 s.v. 7).
- Proverbs 2:11 tn The word מְזִמָּה (mezimmah, “discretion”) is the ability to know the best course of action for achieving one’s goal. It is knowledge and understanding with a purpose. This kind of knowledge enables one to make the right choices that will protect him from blunders and their consequences (cf. NLT “wise planning”; CEV “sound judgment”).
- Proverbs 2:11 tn Heb “will watch over you.”
Proverbs 2:10-11
New Living Translation
Proverbs 2:10-11
New Living Translation
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will fill you with joy.
11 Wise choices will watch over you.
Understanding will keep you safe.
Proverbs 2:10-11
New International Version
Proverbs 2:10-11
New International Version
Proverbs 2:20
New English Translation
Proverbs 2:20
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 2:20 tn The conjunction לְמַעַן (lemaʿan, “so; as a result”) introduces the concluding result (BDB 775 s.v. מַעַן 2; HALOT 614 s.v. מַעַן 2.c) of heeding the admonition to attain wisdom (2:1-11) and to avoid the evil men and women and their destructive ways (2:12-19).
- Proverbs 2:20 tn The noun “good” (טוֹבִים, tovim) does not function as an attributive genitive (“the good way”) because it is a plural noun and the term “way” (דֶרֶךְ, derekh) is singular. Rather it functions as a genitive of possession identifying the people who walk on this path: “the way of the good people.”
- Proverbs 2:20 tn In the light of the parallelism, the noun “righteous” (צַדִּיקִים, tsaddiqim) functions as a genitive of possession rather than an attributive genitive.
Proverbs 2:20
New Living Translation
Proverbs 2:20
New Living Translation
20 So follow the steps of the good,
and stay on the paths of the righteous.
Proverbs 2:20
New International Version
Proverbs 2:20
New International Version
20 Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
Proverbs 4:14-19
New English Translation
Proverbs 4:14-19
New English Translation
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked
or walk[a] in the way of those who are evil.
15 Avoid it, do not go on it;
turn away from it, and go on.[b]
16 For they cannot sleep[c] unless they cause harm;[d]
they are robbed of sleep[e] until they make someone stumble.[f]
17 Indeed they have eaten[g] bread gained from wickedness[h]
and drink[i] wine obtained from violence.[j]
18 But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light,[k]
growing brighter and brighter[l] until full day.[m]
19 The way of the wicked is like gloomy darkness;
they do not know what they stumble over.[n]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:14 tn The verb אָשַׁר (ʾashar, “to walk”) is not to be confused with the identically spelled homonym אָשַׁר “to pronounce happy” as in BDB 80 s.v. אָשַׁר.
- Proverbs 4:15 sn The verb עָבַר (ʿavar, “to cross over; to travel through”) ends both cola. In the first it warns against going on wrong paths; in the second it means “to go your own way,” but may hint that the way will cross over the wrong way. The rapid sequence of commands stresses the urgency of the matter.
- Proverbs 4:16 tn The verb יָשַׁן (yashan) “to be asleep” is a stative root. In the imperfect it can be future “will not sleep” or modal, in this case abilitive, “are not able to sleep.”
- Proverbs 4:16 sn The verb is רָעַע (raʿaʿ), which means “to do evil; to harm.” The verse is using the figure of hyperbole to stress the preoccupation of some people with causing trouble. R. L. Alden says, “How sick to find peace only at the price of another man’s misfortune” (Proverbs, 47).
- Proverbs 4:16 sn Heb “their sleep is robbed/seized”; these expressions are metonymical for their restlessness in plotting evil.
- Proverbs 4:16 sn The Hiphil imperfect (Kethib) means “cause to stumble.” This idiom (from hypocatastasis) means “bring injury/ruin to someone” (BDB 505-6 s.v. כָּשַׁל Hiph.1).
- Proverbs 4:17 tn The verb לָחֲמוּ (lakhamu) is a perfect form of a dynamic root, and therefore past or perfective. This serves as verification of the description in the previous verse.
- Proverbs 4:17 tn Heb “the bread of wickedness” (so KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV). There are two ways to take the genitives: (1) genitives of apposition: wickedness and violence are their food and drink (cf. TEV, CEV, NLT), or (2) genitives of source: they derive their livelihood from the evil they do (C. H. Toy, Proverbs [ICC], 93).
- Proverbs 4:17 tn The verb is an imperfect, either present or future, saying what they do or forecasting what they will do. Being paired with a perfect verb in the beginning of the verse, the description combines their past pattern with what they continue to do.
- Proverbs 4:17 tn Heb “the wine of violence” (so KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV). This is a genitive of source, meaning that the wine they drink was plundered from their violent crime. The Hebrew is structured in an AB:BA chiasm: “For they eat the bread of wickedness, and the wine of violence they drink.” The word order in the translation is reversed for the sake of smoothness and readability.
- Proverbs 4:18 tn Heb “like light of brightness.” This construction is an attributive genitive: “bright light.” The word “light” (אוֹר, ʾor) refers to the early morning light or the dawn (BDB 21 s.v.). The point of the simile is that the course of life that the righteous follow is like the clear, bright morning light. It is illumined, clear, easy to follow, and healthy and safe—the opposite of what darkness represents.
- Proverbs 4:18 tn A literal rendering would appear to be “walking and becoming bright.” When the Qal active participle of הָלַךְ (halakh) is paired with another participle (or adj.) it can express the intensification of an event, that is, the second element in the pairing continues on and increases in character. Cf. Jonah 1:11 and see HALOT 246-247 s.v. הָלַךְ 5).
- Proverbs 4:18 tn Heb “until the day is established.” This expression refers to the coming of the full day or the time of high noon.
- Proverbs 4:19 sn The image of paths, brightness or darkness, and stumbling illustrate the contrast of lifestyles. When acting with righteousness one’s course becomes clearer and more sure, while the wicked are caught in their ways, ignorant of why they fall.
Proverbs 4:14-19
New Living Translation
Proverbs 4:14-19
New Living Translation
14 Don’t do as the wicked do,
and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
15 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.
Turn away and keep moving.
16 For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day.
They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.
17 They eat the food of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence!
18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
They have no idea what they are stumbling over.
Proverbs 4:14-19
New International Version
Proverbs 4:14-19
New International Version
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.(A)
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;(B)
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.(C)
Proverbs 13:20
New English Translation
Proverbs 13:20
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:20 tn Heb “walks.” When used with the preposition אֶת (ʾet, “with”), the verb הָלַךְ (halakh, “to walk”) means “to associate with” someone (BDB 234 s.v. הָלַךְ II.3.b; e.g., Mic 6:8; Job 34:8). The active participle of הָלַךְ (“to walk”) stresses continual, durative action. One should stay in close association with the wise, and move in the same direction they do.
- Proverbs 13:20 tc The Kethib of the MT and two important Greek witnesses read “Walk with the wise and become wise.” The Qere and other important Greek witnesses along with the Syriac, Targum and Vulgate read “One who walks with the wise will become wise.”
- Proverbs 13:20 tn The verb form יֵרוֹעַ (yeroaʿ) is the Niphal imperfect of רָעַע (raʿaʿ), meaning “to suffer hurt.” Several have attempted to parallel the repetition in the wordplay of the first colon. A. Guillaume has “he who associates with fools will be left a fool” (“A Note on the Roots רִיע, יָרַע, and רָעַע in Hebrew,” JTS 15 [1964]: 294). Knox translated the Vulgate thus: “Fool he ends that fool befriends” (cited by D. Kidner, Proverbs [TOTC], 104).
Proverbs 13:20
New Living Translation
Proverbs 13:20
New Living Translation
20 Walk with the wise and become wise;
associate with fools and get in trouble.
Proverbs 13:20
New International Version
Proverbs 13:20
New International Version
20 Walk with the wise and become wise,
for a companion of fools suffers harm.(A)
Proverbs 16:28
New English Translation
Proverbs 16:28
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:28 tn Heb “a man of perverse things”; NAB “an intriguer.” This refers to someone who destroys lives. The parallelism suggests that he is a “slanderer” or “gossip”—one who whispers and murmurs (18:8; 26:20, 22).
- Proverbs 16:28 tn The term אַלּוּף (ʾalluf) refers to a “friend” or “an intimate associate.” The word has other possible translations, including “tame” or “docile” when used of animals. Rashi, a Jewish scholar who lived a.d. 1040-1105, took it in the later sense of “prince,” saying that such speech alienates the Prince, namely God. But that is a forced interpretation of the line.
Proverbs 16:28
New Living Translation
Proverbs 16:28
New Living Translation
28 A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;
gossip separates the best of friends.
Proverbs 16:28
New International Version
Proverbs 16:28
New International Version
Proverbs 17:12
New English Translation
Proverbs 17:12
New English Translation
12 It is better for a person to meet[a] a mother bear being robbed of her cubs,
than[b] to encounter[c] a fool in his folly.[d]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:12 tn Heb “Let a man meet” (so NASB); NLT “It is safer to meet.” The infinitive absolute פָּגוֹשׁ (pagosh, “to meet”) functions as a jussive of advice. The bear meeting a man is less dangerous than a fool in his folly. It could be worded as a “better” saying, but that formula is not found here.
- Proverbs 17:12 tn The second colon begins with וְאַל (veʾal), “and not.” This negative usually appears with volitives, so the fuller expression of the parallel line would be “and let not a fool in his folly [meet someone].”
- Proverbs 17:12 tn The words “to meet” are not in the Hebrew text, but are implied by the parallelism and are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Proverbs 17:12 sn The human, who is supposed to be rational and intelligent, in such folly becomes more dangerous than the beast that in this case acts with good reason. As R. L. Alden comments, “Consider meeting a fool with a knife, or gun, or even behind the wheel of a car” (Proverbs, 134). See also E. Loewenstamm, “Remarks on Proverbs 17:12 and 20:27, ” VT 37 (1967): 221-24. For a slightly different nuance cf. TEV “some fool busy with a stupid project.”
Proverbs 17:12
New Living Translation
Proverbs 17:12
New Living Translation
12 It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than to confront a fool caught in foolishness.
Proverbs 17:12
New International Version
Proverbs 17:12
New International Version
12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool bent on folly.(A)
Proverbs 17:17
New English Translation
Proverbs 17:17
New English Translation
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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
New Living Translation
Proverbs 17:17
New Living Translation
17 A friend is always loyal,
and a brother is born to help in time of need.
Proverbs 17:17
New International Version
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 18:24
New English Translation
Proverbs 18:24
New English Translation
24 There are[a] companions[b] who harm one another,[c]
but there is a friend[d] who sticks closer than a brother.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:24 tn The word is spelled אִישׁ (ʾish), typical of the word for “man, person,” and is often so translated (KJV, NIV, NASB, ESV). It is probably a synonym or alternate form of יֵשׁ (yesh, “there is”), which begins the second line of the verse. The Ugaritic and Aramaic cognates of יֵשׁ (yesh) are ʾt and אִית (ʾith) respectively. A regular phonetic change in the history of the languages accounts for the Ugaritic and Aramaic tav (ת, “t”) where Hebrew has a shin (שׁ, “sh”). It is spelled without the yod as אִשׁ (ʾish, “there is”) in 2 Sam 14:19 and Mic 6:10 (see HALOT 92, s.v. אִשׁ). C. H. Toy suggested reading יֵשׁ (yesh) instead of אִישׁ (ʾish), along with some of the Greek mss, the Syriac, and Tg. Prov 18:24 (Proverbs [ICC], 366) but the emendation is unnecessary in light of the cognate.
- Proverbs 18:24 tn The noun רֵעַ (reaʿ) refers to a “companion, associate, friend, neighbor.” It has a wide range of meaning depending on context, but generally “those persons with whom one is brought into contact and with whom one must live on account of the circumstances of life” (HALOT 1253 s.v. II רֵעַ). Some translations employ the word “friend” in both halves of the verse, obscuring the distinction between them. This term speaks of association, not necessarily friendship.
- Proverbs 18:24 tn The text lacks a main verb and simply has an infinitive construct, לְהִתְרֹעֵעַ (lehitroʿeaʿ), a hitpolel of the verb רעע (raʿaʿ). Based on the noun רֵעַ (reaʿ, “companion, associate, friend, neighbor”), the KJV had postulated a cognate, an otherwise unattested root רעע meaning “show oneself friendly” in the Hitpolel. This would be reasonable if there was a root רעע that means “to be a friend” in the Qal, but the noun רֵעַ (reaʿ) is actually associated with a root רעה (raʿah). Instead the infinitive points toward a result and the Hitpolel of רעע (raʿaʿ) means “to smash one another” (HALOT 1269 s.v. II רעע). If the first word of the verse is maintained to be אִישׁ (ʾish, “man”), it might mean “a man of companions may be crushed by them.”
- Proverbs 18:24 tn This term for friend (אֹהֵב, ʾohev) is based on the root meaning “to love. It speaks of a bond or commitment that is not true of the term for “companion” in the first line.
Proverbs 18:24
New Living Translation
Proverbs 18:24
New Living Translation
24 There are “friends” who destroy each other,
but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24
New International Version
Proverbs 18:24
New International Version
24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.(A)
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
New Living Translation
Proverbs 19:4
New Living Translation
4 Wealth makes many “friends”;
poverty drives them all away.
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)
New English Translation (NET)
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New Living Translation (NLT)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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