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Proverbs 10:2-3
English Standard Version
Proverbs 10:2-3
English Standard Version
2 (A)Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
(B)but righteousness delivers from death.
3 (C)The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
(D)but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
Proverbs 10:2-3
New English Translation
Proverbs 10:2-3
New English Translation
2 Treasures gained by wickedness[a] do not profit,
but righteousness[b] delivers from death.[c]
3 The Lord satisfies[d] the appetite[e] of the righteous,
but he thwarts[f] the craving[g] of the wicked.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:2 tn Heb “treasures of wickedness” (so KJV, ASV); NASB “Ill-gotten gains”; TEV “Wealth that you get by dishonesty.”
- Proverbs 10:2 sn The term “righteousness” here means honesty (cf. TEV). Wealth has limited value even if gained honestly, but honesty delivers from mortal danger.
- Proverbs 10:2 tn Heb “death.” This could refer to literal death, but it is probably figurative here for mortal danger or ruin.
- Proverbs 10:3 tn Heb “does not allow…to go hungry.” The expression “The Lord does not allow the appetite of the righteous to go hungry” is an example of tapeinosis—a figurative expression stated in the negative to emphasize the positive: The Lord satisfies the appetite of the righteous.
- Proverbs 10:3 tn The term נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) means “soul” but its root meaning is “throat” and it has a broad range of meanings; here it denotes “appetite” (BDB 660 s.v. 5.a; see, e.g., Pss 63:6; 107:9; Prov 27:7; Isa 56:11; 58:10; Jer 50:19; Ezek 7:19). The term could denote “desire” (BDB 660 s.v. 6.a) which would include the inner urge for success. By contrast, the wicked live unfulfilled lives—as far as spiritual values are concerned.
- Proverbs 10:3 tn Heb “thrusts away” (cf. ASV, NASB); NLT “refuses to satisfy.” The verb הָדַף (hadaf) means “to thrust away; to push; to drive,” either to depose or reject (BDB 213 s.v.).
- Proverbs 10:3 tn This verse contrasts the “appetite” of the righteous with the “craving” of the wicked. This word הַוַּה (havvah, “craving”) means “desire” often in a bad sense, as ‘the desire of the wicked,” which could not be wholesome (Ps 52:9).
Proverbs 10:6-7
English Standard Version
Proverbs 10:6-7
English Standard Version
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but (A)the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.[a]
7 (B)The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
but (C)the name of the wicked will rot.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:6 Or but violence covers the mouth of the wicked; also verse 11
Proverbs 10:6-7
New English Translation
Proverbs 10:6-7
New English Translation
6 Blessings[a] are on the head of the righteous,
but the speech[b] of the wicked conceals[c] violence.[d]
7 The memory[e] of the righteous is a blessing,
but the reputation[f] of the wicked will rot.[g]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:6 sn The word “blessings” has the sense of gifts, enrichments, that is, the rewards or the results of being righteous. The blessings come either from the people the righteous deal with, or from God. CEV understands the blessings as praise for good behavior (“Everyone praises good people”).
- Proverbs 10:6 tn Heb “the mouth.” The term פֶּה (peh, “mouth”) functions as a metonymy of cause for speech.
- Proverbs 10:6 tn Heb “covers.” Behind the speech of the wicked is aggressive violence (W. McKane, Proverbs [OTL], 422).
- Proverbs 10:6 tn The syntax of this line is ambiguous. The translation takes “the mouth of the wicked” as the nominative subject and “violence” as the accusative direct object; however, the subject might be “violence,” hence: “violence covers the mouth of the wicked” (cf. KJV, ASV, NIV).
- Proverbs 10:7 sn “Memory” (זֵכֶר, zekher) and “name” are often paired as synonyms. “Memory” in this sense has to do with reputation, fame. One’s reputation will be good or bad by righteousness or wickedness respectively.
- Proverbs 10:7 tn Heb “name.” The term “name” often functions as a metonymy of association for reputation (BDB 1028 s.v. שֵׁם 2.b).
- Proverbs 10:7 tn The editors of BHS suggest a reading “will be cursed” to make a better parallelism, but the reading of the MT is more striking as a metaphor.sn To say the wicked’s name will rot means that the name will be obliterated from memory (Exod 17:14; Deut 25:19), leaving only a bad memory for a while.
Proverbs 10:16
English Standard Version
Proverbs 10:16
English Standard Version
16 The wage of the righteous leads (A)to life,
the gain of the wicked to sin.
Proverbs 10:16
New English Translation
Proverbs 10:16
New English Translation
16 The reward[a] that the righteous receive[b] is life;
the recompense[c] that the wicked receive[d] is judgment.[e]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:16 tn Heb “recompense” (so NAB); NASB, NIV “wages.” The noun פְּעֻלַּה (peʿullah) has a two-fold range of meanings: (1) “work; deed” and (2) “reward; recompense” (BDB 821 s.v.). There is a clear correlation between a person’s conduct and its consequences. Rewards are determined by moral choices. What one receives in life depends on the use of gifts and a righteous character.
- Proverbs 10:16 tn Heb “the recompense of the righteous.”
- Proverbs 10:16 tn Heb “harvest.” The term תְּבוּאַת (tevuʾat, “harvest; yield”) is used figuratively here (hypocatastasis), drawing an implied comparison between the agricultural yield of a farmer’s labors with the consequences of the actions of the wicked. They will “reap” (= judgment) what they “sow” (= sin).
- Proverbs 10:16 tn Heb “the harvest of the wicked.”
- Proverbs 10:16 tn Heb “sin.” The term חַטָּאת (khattaʾt, “sin”) functions as a metonymy of cause (= sin) for effect (= punishment). In contrast to the righteous who receive a reward, the wicked receive punishment for their sin (cf. NASB, NIV, NCV). See D. W. Thomas, “The Meaning of חַטָּאת in Proverbs X.16, ” JTS 15 (1964): 295-96.
Proverbs 10:22
English Standard Version
Proverbs 10:22
English Standard Version
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:22 Or and toil adds nothing to it
Proverbs 10:22
New English Translation
Proverbs 10:22
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:22 tn The term בְּרָכָה (berakhah, “blessing”) refers to a gift, enrichment or endowment from the Lord.
- Proverbs 10:22 tn Heb “of the Lord.” The term יְהוָה (yehvah, “the Lord”) functions here as a genitive of source.
- Proverbs 10:22 tn Heb “makes rich” (so NASB); NAB “brings wealth.” The direct object “a person” does not appear in the Hebrew but is implied by the Hiphil verb; it is supplied in the translation.
- Proverbs 10:22 tn Heb “toil.” The noun עֶצֶב (ʿetsev) has a basic two-fold range of meanings: (1) “toil; labor” which produces pain and sorrow, and (2) “pain; sorrow” which is the result of toil and labor (BDB 780 s.v.). This is the word used of the curse of “toil” in man’s labor (Gen 3:17) and the “pain” in the woman’s child-bearing (Gen 3:16). God’s blessing is pure and untarnished—it does not bring physical pain or emotional sorrow.
- Proverbs 10:22 tn Heb “with.”
Proverbs 10:24-25
New English Translation
Proverbs 10:24-25
New English Translation
24 What the wicked fears[a] will come on him;
what the righteous desire[b] will be granted.[c]
25 When the storm[d] passes through, the wicked are swept away,[e]
but the righteous are an everlasting foundation.[f]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:24 tn Heb “the dread of the wicked.” The noun רָשָׁע (rashaʿ, “wicked”) is a subjective genitive. The noun מְגוֹרַת (megorat) refers to “the feared thing,” that is, what the wicked dread. The wicked are afraid of the consequences of their sinful actions; however, they cannot escape these consequences.
- Proverbs 10:24 tn Heb “the desire of the righteous.” The noun צַדִּיק (tsadiq, “righteous”) is a subjective genitive.
- Proverbs 10:24 tn Heb “it will give.” When used without an expressed subject, the verb יִתֵּן (yitten) has a passive nuance: “it will be granted.”
- Proverbs 10:25 sn The word for “storm wind” comes from the root סוּף (suf, “to come to an end; to cease”). The noun may then describe the kind of storm that makes an end of things, a “whirlwind” (so KJV, NASB; NLT “cyclone”). It is used in prophetic passages that describe swift judgment and destruction.
- Proverbs 10:25 tn Heb “the wicked are not”; ASV, NAB, NASB “is no more.”
- Proverbs 10:25 tn Heb “a foundation forever”; NLT “have a lasting foundation.” sn The metaphor compares the righteous to an everlasting foundation to stress that they are secure when the catastrophes of life come along. He is fixed in a covenantal relationship and needs not to fear passing misfortunes. The wicked has no such security.
Proverbs 10:27-30
English Standard Version
Proverbs 10:27-30
English Standard Version
27 (A)The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
(B)but the years of the wicked will be short.
28 (C)The hope of the righteous brings joy,
(D)but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
29 (E)The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless,
but destruction to evildoers.
30 (F)The righteous will never be removed,
but (G)the wicked will not dwell in the land.
Proverbs 10:27-30
New English Translation
Proverbs 10:27-30
New English Translation
27 Fearing the Lord[a] prolongs life,[b]
but the life span[c] of the wicked will be shortened.[d]
28 The hope[e] of the righteous is joy,
but the expectation of the wicked perishes.
29 The way of the Lord[f] is like[g] a stronghold for the upright,[h]
but it is destruction[i] to evildoers.[j]
30 The righteous will never be moved,
but the wicked will not inhabit the land.[k]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:27 tn Heb “the fear of the Lord.” The term יְהוָה (yehvah, “the Lord”) functions as an objective genitive.
- Proverbs 10:27 tn Heb “days” (so KJV, ASV).
- Proverbs 10:27 tn Heb “years.” The term “years” functions as a synecdoche of part (= years) for the whole (= lifespan).
- Proverbs 10:27 sn This general saying has to be qualified with the problem of the righteous suffering and dying young, a problem that perplexed the sages of the entire ancient world. But this is the general principle: The righteous live longer because their life is the natural one and because God blesses them.
- Proverbs 10:28 sn This proverb contrasts the hopes of the righteous and the wicked. The righteous will see their hopes fulfilled. The saying is concerned with God’s justice. The words תּוֹחֶלֶת (tokhelet, from יָחַל, yakhal) and תִּקְוַת (tiqvat, from קָוָה, qavah) are synonyms, both emphasizing eager expectations, longings, waiting in hope.
- Proverbs 10:29 tc The LXX reads “the fear of the Lord.”sn The “way of the Lord” is an idiom for God’s providential administration of life; it is what the Lord does (“way” being a hypocatastasis).
- Proverbs 10:29 tn The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.
- Proverbs 10:29 tc Heb “for the one with integrity” (לַתֹּם, lattom). The versions appear to read לְתַם (letam) “for the blameless.”
- Proverbs 10:29 tn Or “ruin” (so NIV).
- Proverbs 10:29 tn Heb “those who practice iniquity.”
- Proverbs 10:30 sn This proverb concerns the enjoyment of covenant blessings—dwelling in the land of Israel. It is promised to the righteous for an eternal inheritance, and so the wicked cannot expect to settle there—they will be exiled.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New English Translation (NET)
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