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Proverbs 4:20-21
New English Translation

20 My child, pay attention to my words;
listen attentively[a] to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart[b] from your sight,
guard[c] them within your heart;[d]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:20 tn Heb “incline your ear.” The verb הַט (hat) is the Hiphil imperative from נָטָה (natah, Hiphil: “to turn to; to incline”). The idiom “to incline the ear” gives the picture of “lean over and listen closely.” sn Commentators note the use of the body in this section: ear (v. 20), eyes (v. 21), flesh (v. 22), heart (v. 23), lips (v. 24), eyes (v. 25), feet (v. 26), and hands and feet (v. 27). Each is a synecdoche of part representing the whole; the total accumulation signifies the complete person in the process.
  2. Proverbs 4:21 tn The Hiphil form יַלִּיזוּ (yallizu) follows the Aramaic with gemination. The verb means “to turn aside; to depart” (intransitive Hiphil or inner causative).
  3. Proverbs 4:21 tn Or “keep” (so KJV, NIV, NRSV and many others).
  4. Proverbs 4:21 sn The words “eyes” and “heart” are metonymies of subject representing the faculties of each. Cf. CEV “think about it all.”
Listen to Proverbs 4:20-21, Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 10:20, Proverbs 12:20, Proverbs 15:13, Proverbs 15:15, Proverbs 15:30, Proverbs 16:1-2, Proverbs 16:5
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Proverbs 4:20-21
New American Standard Bible

20 My son, (A)pay attention to my words;
(B)Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 (C)They are not to escape from your sight;
(D)Keep them in the midst of your heart.

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Listen to Proverbs 4:20-21, Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 10:20, Proverbs 12:20, Proverbs 15:13, Proverbs 15:15, Proverbs 15:30, Proverbs 16:1-2, Proverbs 16:5
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Proverbs 4:20-21
New International Version

20 My son,(A) pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.(B)
21 Do not let them out of your sight,(C)
    keep them within your heart;

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Proverbs 3
Proverbs 5
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Proverbs 4:23
New English Translation

23 Guard your heart[a] with all vigilance,[b]
for from it are the sources[c] of life.

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Footnotes

  1. 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.
  2. 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).
  3. 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.
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Proverbs 4:23
New American Standard Bible

23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For (A)from it flow the springs of life.

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Proverbs 4:23
New International Version

23 Above all else, guard(A) your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.(B)

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Proverbs 3
Proverbs 5
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Proverbs 10:20
New English Translation

20 What the righteous say[a] is like[b] the best[c] silver,
but what the wicked think[d] is of little value.[e]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:20 tn Heb “the lips of the righteous.” The term “lips” functions as a metonymy of cause for speech. This contrasts the tongue (metonymy of cause for what they say) with the heart (metonymy of subject for what they intend). What the righteous say is more valuable than what the wicked intend.
  2. Proverbs 10:20 tn The comparative “like” is not in the Hebrew text but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.
  3. Proverbs 10:20 tn Or “pure”; Heb “choice.”
  4. Proverbs 10:20 tn Heb “the heart of the wicked” (so KJV, NAB, NIV). The term “heart” functions as a metonymy of cause for thoughts. The term לֵב (lev, “heart”) often refers to the seat of thoughts, will and emotions (BDB 524 s.v. 3-4).
  5. Proverbs 10:20 tn Heb “like little.” This expression refers to what has little value: “little worth” (so KJV, NAB, NRSV; cf. BDB 590 s.v. מְעַט 2.d). The point of the metaphor is clarified by the parallelism: Silver is valuable; the heart of the wicked is worth little. Tg. Prov 10:20 says it was full of dross, a contrast with choice silver.
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Proverbs 10:20
New American Standard Bible

20 The tongue of the righteous is like (A)choice silver,
The heart of the wicked is worth little.

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Proverbs 10:20
New International Version

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
    but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

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Proverbs 9
Proverbs 11
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Proverbs 12:20
New English Translation

20 Deceit[a] is in the heart of those who plot evil,[b]
but those who promote peace[c] have joy.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:20 tc Rather than the MT’s מִרְמָה (mirmah, “deceit”), the BHS editors suggest מֹרָה (morah, “bitterness, sorrow”) as a contrast to joy in the second half.
  2. Proverbs 12:20 sn The contrast here is between “evil” (= pain and calamity) and “peace” (= social wholeness and well-being); see, e.g., Pss 34:14; 37:37.
  3. Proverbs 12:20 tn Heb “those who are counselors of peace.” The term שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “peace”) is an objective genitive, so the genitive-construct “counselors of peace” means those who advise, advocate or promote peace (cf. NAB, NIV).
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Proverbs 12:20
New American Standard Bible

20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.

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Proverbs 12:20
New International Version

20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
    but those who promote peace have joy.(A)

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Proverbs 13
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Proverbs 15:13
New English Translation

13 A joyful heart[a] makes the face cheerful,[b]
but by a painful heart the spirit is broken.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:13 tn The contrast in this proverb is between the “joyful heart” (Heb “a heart of joy,” using an attributive genitive) and the “painful heart” (Heb “pain of the heart,” using a genitive of specification).
  2. Proverbs 15:13 sn The verb יֵיטִב (yetiv) normally means “to make good,” but here “to make the face good,” that is, there is a healthy, favorable, uplifted expression. The antithesis is the pained heart that crushes the spirit. C. H. Toy observes that a broken spirit is expressed by a sad face, while a cheerful face shows a courageous spirit (Proverbs [ICC], 308).
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Proverbs 15:13
New American Standard Bible

13 A (A)joyful heart makes a [a]cheerful face,
But [b]when the heart is (B)sad, the (C)spirit is broken.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:13 Lit good
  2. Proverbs 15:13 Lit in sadness of heart
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Proverbs 15:13
New International Version

13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,(A)
    but heartache crushes the spirit.(B)

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Proverbs 15:15
New English Translation

15 All the days[a] of the afflicted[b] are bad,[c]
but one with[d] a cheerful heart has a continual feast.[e]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:15 sn The “days” represent what happens on those days (metonymy of subject).
  2. Proverbs 15:15 tn The contrast is between the “afflicted” and the “good of heart” (a genitive of specification, “cheerful/healthy heart/spirit/attitude”). sn The parallelism suggests that the afflicted is one afflicted within his spirit, for the proverb is promoting a healthy frame of mind.
  3. Proverbs 15:15 tn Or “evil”; or “catastrophic.”
  4. Proverbs 15:15 tn “one with” is supplied.
  5. Proverbs 15:15 sn The image of a continual feast signifies the enjoyment of what life offers (cf. TEV “happy people…enjoy life”). The figure is a hypocatastasis; among its several implications are joy, fulfillment, abundance, pleasure.
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Proverbs 15:15
New American Standard Bible

15 All the days of the [a]needy are bad,
But a [b]cheerful heart has a continual feast.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:15 Or wretched
  2. Proverbs 15:15 Lit good
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Proverbs 15:15
New International Version

15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
    but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.(A)

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Proverbs 15:30
New English Translation

30 A bright look[a] brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the body.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:30 tc The LXX has “the eye that sees beautiful things.” D. W. Thomas suggests pointing מְאוֹר (meʾor) as a Hophal participle, “a fine sight cheers the mind” (“Textual and Philological Notes,” 205). But little is to be gained from this change.tn Heb “light of the eyes” (so KJV, NRSV). The expression may indicate the gleam in the eyes of the one who tells the good news, as the parallel clause suggests.
  2. Proverbs 15:30 tn Heb “makes fat the bones;” NAB “invigorates the bones;” NASB “puts fat on the bones.” The word “bones” is a metonymy of subject, the bones representing the whole body. The idea of “making fat” signifies by comparison (hypocatastasis) with fat things that the body will be healthy and prosperous (e.g., Prov 17:22; 25:25; Gen 45:27-28; Isa 52:7-8). Good news makes the person feel good in body and soul.
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Proverbs 15:30
New American Standard Bible

30 [a]Bright eyes gladden the heart;
Good news [b]refreshes the bones.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:30 Lit The light of the eyes gladdens
  2. Proverbs 15:30 Lit makes fat
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Proverbs 15:30
New International Version

30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.(A)

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Proverbs 16
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Proverbs 16:1-2
New English Translation

16 The intentions of the heart[a] belong to a man,
but the answer of the tongue[b] comes from[c] the Lord.[d]
2 All a person’s ways[e] seem right[f] in his own opinion,[g]
but the Lord evaluates[h] the motives.[i]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:1 tn Heb “plans of the heart” (so ASV, NASB, NIV). The phrase מַעַרְכֵי־לֵב (maʿarekhe lev) means “the arrangements of the mind.” sn Humans may set things in order, plan out what they are going to say, but God sovereignly enables them to put their thoughts into words.
  2. Proverbs 16:1 tn Here “the tongue” is a metonymy of cause in which the instrument of speech is put for what is said: the answer expressed.
  3. Proverbs 16:1 sn The contrasting prepositions enhance the contrasting ideas—the ideas belong to people, but the words come from the Lord.
  4. Proverbs 16:1 sn There are two ways this statement can be taken: (1) what one intends to say and what one actually says are the same, or (2) what one actually says differs from what the person intended to say. The second view fits the contrast better. The proverb then is giving a glimpse of how God even confounds the wise. When someone is trying to speak [“answer” in the book seems to refer to a verbal answer] before others, the Lord directs the words according to his sovereign will.
  5. Proverbs 16:2 tn Heb “ways of a man.”
  6. Proverbs 16:2 sn The Hebrew term translated “right” (זַךְ, zakh) means “pure, clear, clean” (cf. KJV, NASB “clean;” NIV “innocent;” ESV, NKJV, NLT, NRSV “pure.” It is used in the Bible for pure (uncontaminated) oils or undiluted liquids. Here it means uncontaminated actions and motives. It address how people naively conclude or rationalize that their actions are fine.
  7. Proverbs 16:2 tn Heb “in his eyes.” Physical sight is used figuratively for insight, or one’s intellectual point of view.
  8. Proverbs 16:2 tn The figure (a hypocatastasis) of “weighing” signifies “evaluation” (e.g., Exod 5:8; 1 Sam 2:3; 16:7; Prov 21:2; 24:12). There may be an allusion to the Egyptian belief of weighing the heart after death to determine righteousness. But in Hebrew thought it is an ongoing evaluation as well, not merely an evaluation after death.
  9. Proverbs 16:2 tn Heb “spirits” (so KJV, ASV). This is a metonymy for the motives, the intentions of the heart (e.g., 21:2 and 24:2). sn Humans deceive themselves rather easily and so appear righteous in their own eyes, but the proverb says that God evaluates motives and so he alone can determine if the person’s ways are innocent.
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Proverbs 16:1-2
New American Standard Bible

Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

16 The (A)plans of the heart belong to a person,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight,
But the (B)Lord examines the [a]motives.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:2 Lit spirits
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Proverbs 16:1-2
New International Version

16 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
    but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.(A)

2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them,(B)
    but motives are weighed(C) by the Lord.(D)

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Proverbs 16:5
New English Translation

5 The Lord abhors[a] every arrogant person;[b]
rest assured[c] that they will not go unpunished.[d]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:5 tn Heb “an abomination of the Lord.” The term יְהוָה (yehvah, “the Lord”) is a subjective genitive: “the Lord abhors.”
  2. Proverbs 16:5 tn Heb “everyone of proud of heart.” The noun לֵב (lev, “heart, mind”) represents what one does with the לֵב, i.e., thinking and feeling, and here refers to the attitude of someone’s spirit. It acts as a genitive of specification, “proud in the heart.” The phrase refers to that class of people who are arrogant, those who set themselves presumptuously against God (e.g., 2 Chr 26:16; Ps 131:1; Prov 18:12).
  3. Proverbs 16:5 tn Heb “hand to hand.” This idiom means “you can be assured” (e.g., Prov 11:21).
  4. Proverbs 16:5 tn The B-line continues the A-line, stating the eventual outcome of the Lord’s abhorrence of arrogance—he will punish them. “Will not go unpunished” is an understatement (tapeinosis) to stress first that they will certainly be punished; whereas those who humble themselves before God in faith will not be punished.tc The LXX has inserted two couplets here: “The beginning of a good way is to do justly, // and it is more acceptable with God than to do sacrifices; // he who seeks the Lord will find knowledge with righteousness, // and they who rightly seek him will find peace.” C. H. Toy reminds the reader that there were many proverbs in existence that sounded similar to those in the book of Proverbs; these lines are in the Greek OT as well as in Sirach (Proverbs [ICC], 321-22).
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Proverbs 16:5
New American Standard Bible

5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
[a]Be assured, he will not go unpunished.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:5 Lit Hand to hand, he
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Proverbs 16:5
New International Version

5 The Lord detests all the proud of heart.(A)
    Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.(B)

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