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Proverbs 11:28
New English Translation
Proverbs 11:28
New English Translation
28 The one who trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous[a] will flourish like a green leaf.[b]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:28 sn The implication from the parallelism is that the righteous do not trust in their own riches, but in the Lord.
- Proverbs 11:28 tn Heb “leafage” or “leaf” (cf. KJV “as a branch”); TEV “leaves of summer”; NLT “leaves in spring.” The simile of a leaf is a figure of prosperity and fertility throughout the ancient Near East.
Proverbs 11:28
International Standard Version
Proverbs 11:28
International Standard Version
28 The person who trusts in his wealth will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.
Proverbs 11:30-31
New English Translation
Proverbs 11:30-31
New English Translation
30 The fruit of the righteous is like[a] a tree producing life,[b]
and the one who wins souls[c] is wise.[d]
31 If the righteous are recompensed on earth,[e]
how much more[f] the wicked sinner![g]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:30 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 11:30 tn Heb “tree of life” (so KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV). The noun חַיִּים (khayyim, “life”) is genitive of product. What the righteous produce (“fruit”) is like a tree of life—a long and healthy life as well as a life-giving influence and provision for others.
- Proverbs 11:30 tc The Leningrad Codex, one of the most authoritative witnesses to the Hebrew text, mistakenly vocalized ש as שׂ (sin) instead of שׁ (shin). The result, נְפָשׂוֹת (nefasot), is not a word. Early printed editions of the Masoretic Text, other medieval Hebrew mss, read correctly נְפָשׁוֹת (nefashot, “souls”).
- Proverbs 11:30 tc The MT reads חָכָם (khakham, “wise”) and seems to refer to capturing (לָקַח, laqakh; “to lay hold of; to seize; to capture”) people with influential ideas (e.g., 2 Sam 15:6). An alternate textual tradition reads חָמָס (khamas) “violent” (reflected in the LXX and Syriac) and refers to taking away lives: “but the one who takes away lives (= kills people) is violent” (cf. NAB, NRSV, TEV). The textual variant was caused by orthographic confusion of ס (samek) and כ (kaf), and metathesis of מ (mem) between the second and third consonants. If the parallelism is synonymous, the MT reading fits; if the parallelism is antithetical, the alternate tradition fits. See D. C. Snell, “‘Taking Souls’ in Proverbs 11:30, ” VT 33 (1083): 362-65.
- Proverbs 11:31 tc The LXX introduces a new idea: “If the righteous be scarcely saved” (reflected in 1 Pet 4:18). The Greek translation “scarcely” could have come from a Vorlage of בַּצָּרָה (batsarah, “deficiency” or “want”) or בָּצַּר (batsar, “to cut off; to shorten”) perhaps arising from confusion over the letters בָּאָרֶץ (baʾarets, “on the land/earth”). The verb “receive due” could only be translated “saved” by an indirect interpretation. See J. Barr, “בארץ ~ ΜΟΛΙΣ: Prov. XI.31, I Pet. IV.18, ” JSS 20 (1975): 149-64.
- Proverbs 11:31 tn This construction is one of the “how much more” arguments—if this be true, how much more this (arguing from the lesser to the greater). The point is that if the righteous suffer for their sins, certainly the wicked will as well.
- Proverbs 11:31 tn Heb “the wicked and the sinner.” The two terms may form a hendiadys with the first functioning adjectivally: “the wicked sinner.”
Proverbs 11:30-31
International Standard Version
Proverbs 11:30-31
International Standard Version
30 The fruit of the righteous is[a] a tree of life,
and the one who wins people is wise.[b]
31 If the righteous receive what they are due here on earth,
how much more will the wicked and the sinner.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:30 So MT; LXX reads From the fruit of righteousness grows
- Proverbs 11:30 So MT; LXX reads life, but the souls of those who practice evil are cut off prematurely
Proverbs 14:19
New English Translation
Proverbs 14:19
New English Translation
19 Bad people have bowed[a] before good people,
and wicked people have bowed[b] at the gates[c] of someone righteous.[d]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:19 tn The verb שָׁחַח (shakhakh) means “to crouch, cower, bow” whether from weariness or in submission. As a dynamic verb in the perfect conjugation form, it is past or perfective. Here the sage takes the viewpoint of assuring the learner of what has happened in the past, asserting it to be prototypical of what will continue to happen. Some translations emphasize the future implication (NIV, NASB, CEV, NLT) while others opt to portray the lesson as a characteristic present (ESV, KJV, Holman).
- Proverbs 14:19 tn The phrase “have bowed” does not appear in this line but is implied by the parallelism; it is supplied in the translation for clarity and smoothness.
- Proverbs 14:19 sn J. H. Greenstone suggests that this means that they are begging for favors (Proverbs, 154).
- Proverbs 14:19 tn The adjective is singular. A plurality of people crouching before a single person portrays an even greater extent of difference in power between them.
Proverbs 14:19
International Standard Version
Proverbs 14:19
International Standard Version
19 Evil men will bow down in the presence of good men
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
Proverbs 14:32
New English Translation
Proverbs 14:32
New English Translation
32 An evil person will be thrown down through his wickedness,[a]
but a righteous person takes refuge in his integrity.[b]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:32 tn Or “during his trouble” (i.e., when catastrophe comes). The noun רָעָה (raʿah) can refer to evil (so KJV, NASB, ESV, NRSV) or to calamity (CEV, NIV, NLT).
- Proverbs 14:32 tc The MT reads בְּמוֹתוֹ (bemoto, “in his death”). The LXX reads “in his integrity,” implying the switching of two letters to בְּתוּמּוֹ (betummo). The LXX is followed by some English versions (e.g., NAB “in his honesty,” NRSV “in their integrity,” and TEV “by their integrity”). For all other cases of the verb חָסָה (khasah, “to take refuge”), the preposition ב (bet) indicates what the person relies on, not what they take refuge through, and it is unlikely that the righteous rely on death or see death as a refuge.
Proverbs 14:32
International Standard Version
Proverbs 14:32
International Standard Version
32 The wicked person is thrown down by his own wrongdoing,
but the righteous person has a place of safety in death.[a]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:32 So MT DSS 4QProvb; LXX reads in his own piety
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
International Standard Version
Proverbs 15:6
International Standard Version
6 The righteous house is itself[a] a great treasure,
but within the revenue of the wicked calamity is at work.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:6 The Heb. lacks itself
Proverbs 15:28-29
New English Translation
Proverbs 15:28-29
New English Translation
28 The heart[a] of the righteous considers[b] how[c] to answer,[d]
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.[e]
29 The Lord is far[f] from the wicked,
but he hears[g] the prayer of the righteous.[h]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:28 tn Or “mind.” The term לֵב (lev) can refer to the “mind” or “heart” and represent a person’s thinking, feeling, or will.
- Proverbs 15:28 tn The verb יֶהְגֶּה (yehgeh) means “to muse; to meditate; to consider; to study.” It also involves planning, such as with the wicked “planning” a vain thing (Ps 2:1, which is contrasted with the righteous who “meditate” in the law [1:2]).
- Proverbs 15:28 tn The word “how” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Proverbs 15:28 tc The LXX reads: “the hearts of the righteous meditate faithfulness.”sn The advice of the proverb is to say less but better things. The wise—here called the righteous—are cautious in how they respond to others. They think about it (heart = mind) before speaking.
- Proverbs 15:28 sn The form is plural. What they say (the “mouth” is a metonymy of cause) is any range of harmful things.
- Proverbs 15:29 sn To say that the Lord is “far” from the wicked is to say that he has made himself unavailable to their appeal—he does not answer them. This motif is used by David throughout Ps 22 for the problem of unanswered prayer—“Why are you far off?”
- Proverbs 15:29 sn The verb “hear” (שָׁמַע, shamaʿ) has more of the sense of “respond to” in this context. If one “listens to the voice of the Lord,” for example, it means that he obeys the Lord. If one wishes God to “hear his prayer,” it means he wishes God to answer it.
- Proverbs 15:29 sn God’s response to prayer is determined by the righteousness of the one who prays. A prayer of repentance by the wicked is an exception, for by it they would become the righteous (C. H. Toy, Proverbs [ICC], 316).
Proverbs 15:28-29
International Standard Version
Proverbs 15:28-29
International Standard Version
28 The mind of the righteous thinks before speaking,
but the wicked person spews out evil.
29 The Lord is far away from the wicked,
but he hears the prayers of the righteous.
Proverbs 18:10
New English Translation
Proverbs 18:10
New English Translation
10 The name of the Lord[a] is like[b] a strong tower;[c]
the righteous person runs[d] to it and is set safely on high.[e]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:10 sn The “name of the Lord” is a metonymy of subject. The “name” here signifies not the personal name “Yahweh,” for that would be redundant in the expression “the name of Yahweh,” but the attributes of the Lord (cf. Exod 34:5-7)—here his power to protect.
- Proverbs 18:10 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 18:10 tn Heb “a tower of strength,” with “strength” regarded as attributive by most English versions. The metaphor “strong tower” indicates that God is a secure refuge. The figure is qualified in the second colon.
- Proverbs 18:10 sn The metaphor of “running” to the Lord refers to a whole-hearted and unwavering trust in God’s protection (e.g., Isa 40:31).
- Proverbs 18:10 tn Heb “is high” or “is inaccessible.” This military-type expression stresses the effect of the trust—security, being out of danger (see HALOT 1305 s.v. שׂגב). Other scriptures will supply the ways that God actually protects people who trust him.
Proverbs 18:10
International Standard Version
Proverbs 18:10
International Standard Version
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
a righteous person rushes to it and is lifted up above the danger.[a]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:10 The Heb. lacks above the danger
Proverbs 21:15
New English Translation
Proverbs 21:15
New English Translation
Read full chapter
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:15 tn The Qal infinitive construct עֲשׂוֹת (ʿasot) functions as the subject of the sentence.
- Proverbs 21:15 tn The term “brings” is supplied in the translation; many English versions supply a simple copula (“is”).
- Proverbs 21:15 sn The noun means “terror (NAB, NASB, NIV), destruction (KJV, ASV), ruin (cf. NCV).” Its related verb means “be shattered, dismayed.” The idea of “dismay” (NRSV) or “terror” would make the better choice to contrast with “joy” in the first line, but “ruin” is also possible. Whenever justice prevails, whether in the courts or simply in society, the people who practice iniquity may be shaken into reality by fear (cf. CEV “crooks are terrified”).
Proverbs 21:15
International Standard Version
Proverbs 21:15
International Standard Version
15 Administering justice brings joy to the righteous,
but terror to those who practice iniquity.
Proverbs 21:18
New English Translation
Proverbs 21:18
New English Translation
18 The wicked become a ransom[a] for the righteous,
and the treacherous[b] are taken[c] in the place of the upright.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:18 sn The Hebrew word translated “ransom” (כֹּפֶר, kofer) normally refers to a penalty paid in place of some other punishment or the price paid to free a prisoner. But since it seems out of place to suggest that the just face a punishment that they need a ransom for, the proverb remains obscure. Similar wording is reflected in Isa 43:3-4 where God substitutes Egpyt as Judah’s “ransom” and Ethiopia and Seba “in place of” Judah. In that passage Judah is not just, but has been punished and is now being redeemed. Another application reported by R. Murphy is that punishment intended for a group may take the wicked from that group, who then serve metaphorically as a ransom for the righteous (R. Murphy, Proverbs [WBC] 161), but as Murphy points out this is an application rather than the assertion of the proverb. R. N. Whybray (Proverbs [CBC], 121) similarly suggests it may taken to mean that the wicked suffers the evil he has prepared for the righteous, which harmonizes with Proverbs elsewhere (e.g., 11:8). When Haman is taken in place of Mordecai (Esth 7:9-10) would illustrate an application where the righteous escape and the wicked suffer in their place.
- Proverbs 21:18 tn The verb בָּגַד (bagad), here a participle, means “to act treacherously, with duplicity, or to betray.”
- Proverbs 21:18 tn The phrase “are taken” does not appear in the Hebrew but is implied by the parallelism; it is supplied in the translation for smoothness.
Proverbs 21:18
International Standard Version
Proverbs 21:18
International Standard Version
18 The wicked are ransom for the righteous,
and the unfaithful for the upright.
Proverbs 21:26
New English Translation
Proverbs 21:26
New English Translation
Read full chapter
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:26 tn The construction uses the Hitpael perfect tense הִתְאַוָּה (hitʾavvah) followed by the cognate accusative תַאֲוָה (taʾavah). While the Piel verb means “to desire, wish for,” the reflexive meaning of the Hitpael appears to mean to encourage or build one’s desire. An English idiom might be to fan the flames of desire. It is not inherently immoral (the king will build desire for his bride in Ps 45:11) but often more often refers to a greedy craving or lust. This verse has been placed with the preceding because of the lexical connection with “desire/craving.”
- Proverbs 21:26 sn The additional clause, “and does not hold back,” emphasizes that when the righteous gives he gives freely, without fearing that his generosity will bring him to poverty. This is the contrast with the one who is self-indulgent and craves for more.
Proverbs 21:26
International Standard Version
Proverbs 21:26
International Standard Version
26 All day long he continues to crave,
while the righteous person gives without holding back.
Proverbs 24:15-16
New English Translation
Proverbs 24:15-16
New English Translation
15 Do not lie in wait like the wicked[a] against the place where the righteous live;
do not assault[b] his home.
16 Indeed[c] a righteous person will fall[d] seven times, and then get up again,
but the guilty will collapse[e] in calamity.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 24:15 tn The word “wicked” could be taken as a vocative (cf. KJV, ASV, NASB, “O wicked man”), but since the next line refers to the wicked this is unlikely. It serves better as an adverbial accusative (“like the wicked”).
- Proverbs 24:15 sn The saying warns that it is futile and self-defeating to mistreat God’s people, for they survive—the wicked do not. The warning is against a deliberate, planned assault on their places of dwelling.
- Proverbs 24:16 tn The clause beginning with כִּי (ki) could be interpreted as temporal, conditional, or emphatic. It may be viewed as concessive (“although”) but a concessive force would typically arise from its context and relationship to other independent clauses. In any case, the first half of the proverb assures that the righteous keep getting up and going again.sn The righteous may suffer adversity or misfortune any number of times—seven times here—but they will “rise” for virtue triumphs over evil in the end (R. N. Whybray, Proverbs [CBC], 140).
- Proverbs 24:16 tn The verb is a Hebrew imperfect of נָפַל (nafal) which should be understood as future “will fall” or modal “may fall.” If it is future, it is exemplary and not predictive of the number of times a righteous person will metaphorically fall down. It is followed by a vav plus perfect consecutive, which either continues the force of the preceding verb, or advances it one logical step, like the apodosis of a condition.
- Proverbs 24:16 tn The Niphal of כָּשַׁל (kashal; to stumble) is typically reflexive “to collapse.” Intransitive verbs do not tend to have passive meanings, but the Niphal may refer to the resulting state, “be collapsed, fallen, brought down,” (although some take the Niphal unusually as “caused to stagger”). The imperfect verb form could be taken as a general present, but the future presents a better parallel to the first half of the proverb.
Proverbs 24:15-16
International Standard Version
Proverbs 24:15-16
International Standard Version
15 Don’t lie in wait like an outlaw
to attack where the righteous live;
16 for though a righteous man falls seven times,
he will rise again,
but the wicked stumble into calamity.
Proverbs 28:1
New English Translation
Proverbs 28:1
New English Translation
28 The wicked person fled,[a] though no one was pursuing,[b]
but the righteous person can be as confident[c] as a lion.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:1 tc The plural verb נָסוּ (nasu) “they fled,” should be read as singular to match the subject. It is a case of dittography: the vav beginning the next word was written twice, with the extra vav appended to this verb.tn The verb נָס (nas) is the perfect form of a dynamic root and should be understood as past or perfective. The proverb presents this portion as a past event which has happened and is prototypical of what can be expected. It contrasts what a wicked person felt compelled to do with what a righteous person can choose to do.
- Proverbs 28:1 sn The line portrays the insecurity of a guilty person—he flees because he has a guilty conscience, or because he is suspicious of others around him, or because he fears judgment.
- Proverbs 28:1 tn The verb בָּטַח (batakh) means “to trust; to be secure; to be confident.” Cf. KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT “bold.” As the imperfect form of a stative verb, it should be understood as future or modal. It has been translated as an abilitive modal “can be confident.”sn The righteous, who seek to find favor with God and man, have a clear conscience and do not need to look over their shoulders for avengers or law enforcers. Their position is one of confidence, so that they do not flee.
Proverbs 28:1
International Standard Version
Proverbs 28:1
International Standard Version
Contrasting Good and Evil
28 The wicked flee, though no one pursues,
but the righteous are bold like a lion.
New English Translation (NET)
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