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Proverbs 11:2
New Living Translation

2 Pride leads to disgrace,
    but with humility comes wisdom.

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Proverbs 11:2
New English Translation

2 After pride[a] came,[b] disgrace followed;[c]
but wisdom came[d] with humility.[e]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:2 tn Heb “presumptuousness, over-confidence.” This term is from the root זִיד (zid) which means “to be presumptuous, arrogant, impudent” in the Qal, or to behave with such characteristics in the Hiphil.
  2. Proverbs 11:2 tn Heb “Pride came, then shame came.” The verbs are a perfect and a preterite with vav consecutive of בּוֹא (boʾ, “to enter; to come”). Because the second verb is sequential to the first, the first may be subordinated as a temporal clause. Proverbs in Hebrew utilize the past tense as a prototypical example. English also does so, although less frequently, as in “curiosity killed the cat.”
  3. Proverbs 11:2 sn This proverb does not state how the disgrace will come, but affirms that it will follow pride. The proud will be brought down.
  4. Proverbs 11:2 tn The term “came” does not appear in the Hebrew, but is supplied in the translation from parallelism.
  5. Proverbs 11:2 tn Heb “modesty”; KJV, ASV “the lowly.” The adjective צְנוּעִים (tsenuʿim, “modest”) is used as a noun; this is an example of antimeria in which one part of speech is used in the place of another (see E. W. Bullinger, Figures of Speech, 491-506), e.g., “Let the dry [adjective] appear!” = dry land (Gen 1:9). The root צָנַע (tsanaʿ, “to be modest; to be humble”) describes those who are reserved, retiring, modest. The plural form is used for the abstract idea of humility.
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Proverbs 10
Proverbs 12
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Proverbs 12:9
New Living Translation

9 Better to be an ordinary person with a servant
    than to be self-important but have no food.

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Proverbs 12:9
New English Translation

9 Better is a person of humble standing[a] who works for himself,[b]
than one who pretends to be somebody important[c] yet has no food.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:9 tn Heb “one who is lightly regarded.” The verb קָלָה (qalah) means “to be lightly esteemed; to be dishonored; to be degraded” (BDB 885 s.v.).
  2. Proverbs 12:9 tn Or “who accomplishes [something] for himself.” This is another possible meaning of the Hebrew underlying the LXX (see below). All of the possible options suggest that this person still has something of their own in contrast to the pretentious person in the second half of the saying.tc The MT reads וְעֶבֶד לוֹ (veʿeved lo), which may mean “has a servant” or “is a servant for himself.” The LXX, Syriac, Vulgate and at least one Medieval Hebrew manuscript read the consonants as וְעֹבֵד לוֹ (veʿoved lo) “who serves (works for) himself.” The editors of BHS suggest a slight emendation to וַעֲבוּר לוֹ (vaʿavur lo) “and the produce belongs to him.” The meaning produce (cf. Josh 5:11) is a fitting parallel to “food” and the end of the verse, but the suggestion has no textual support.
  3. Proverbs 12:9 tn Heb “who makes himself out to be important,” “who feigns importance,” or “to boast.” The verb is a Hitpael participle from כָּבֵד (kaved), “to be weighty; to be honored; to be important”). See BDB 458 s.v. כָּבֵד Hitp.2 and HALOT 456 s.v. כָּבֵד.sn This individual lives beyond his financial means in a vain show to impress other people and thus cannot afford to put food on the table.
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Proverbs 11
Proverbs 13
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Proverbs 13:10
New Living Translation

10 Pride leads to conflict;
    those who take advice are wise.

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Proverbs 13:10
New English Translation

10 With pride[a] comes only[b] contention,
but wisdom is with the well-advised.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:10 sn The parallelism suggests pride here means contempt for the opinions of others. The wise listen to advice rather than argue out of stubborn pride.
  2. Proverbs 13:10 tn The particle רַק (raq, “only”) modifies the noun “contention”—only contention can come from such a person.
  3. Proverbs 13:10 tn The Niphal of יָעַץ (yaʿats, “to advise; to counsel”) means “to consult together; to take counsel.” It means being well-advised, receiving advice or consultation (cf. NCV “those who take advice are wise”).
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Proverbs 12
Proverbs 14
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Proverbs 15:25
New Living Translation

25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud,
    but he protects the property of widows.

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Proverbs 15:25
New English Translation

25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud,[a]
but he maintains the boundaries of the widow.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:25 sn The “proud” have to be understood here in contrast to the widow, and their “house” has to be interpreted in contrast to the widow’s territory. The implication may be that the “proud” make their gain from the needy, and so God will set the balance right.
  2. Proverbs 15:25 sn The Lord administers justice in his time. The Lord champions the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the needy. These people were often the prey of the proud, who would take and devour their houses and lands (e.g., 1 Kgs 21; Prov 16:19; Isa 5:8-10).
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Proverbs 14
Proverbs 16
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Proverbs 15:33
New Living Translation

33 Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom;
    humility precedes honor.

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Proverbs 15:33
New English Translation

33 The fear of the Lord provides wise instruction,[a]
and before honor comes humility.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:33 tn Heb “[is] instruction of wisdom” (KJV and NASB similar). The noun translated “wisdom” is an attributive genitive: “wise instruction.”sn The idea of the first line is similar to Prov 1:7 and 9:10. Here it may mean that the fear of the Lord results from the discipline of wisdom, just as easily as it may mean that the fear of the Lord leads to the discipline of wisdom. The second reading harmonizes with the theme in the book that the fear of the Lord is the starting point.
  2. Proverbs 15:33 tn Heb “[is] humility” (so KJV). The second clause is a parallel idea in that it stresses how one thing leads to another—humility to honor. Humble submission in faith to the Lord brings wisdom and honor.
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Proverbs 14
Proverbs 16
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Proverbs 16:5
New Living Translation

5 The Lord detests the proud;
    they will surely be punished.

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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 15
Proverbs 17
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Proverbs 16:18-19
New Living Translation

18 Pride goes before destruction,
    and haughtiness before a fall.

19 Better to live humbly with the poor
    than to share plunder with the proud.

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Proverbs 16:18-19
New English Translation

18 Pride[a] goes[b] before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.[c]
19 It is better to be lowly in spirit[d] with the afflicted
than to share the spoils[e] with the proud.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:18 sn The two lines of this proverb are synonymous parallelism, and so there are parasynonyms. “Pride” is paired with “haughty spirit” (“spirit” being a genitive of specification); and “destruction” is matched with “a tottering, falling.”
  2. Proverbs 16:18 tn Heb “[is] before destruction.”
  3. Proverbs 16:18 sn Many proverbs have been written in a similar way to warn against the inevitable disintegration and downfall of pride. W. McKane records an Arabic proverb: “The nose is in the heavens, the seat is in the mire” (Proverbs [OTL], 490).
  4. Proverbs 16:19 tn Heb “low of spirit”; KJV “of an humble spirit.” This expression describes the person who is humble and submissive before the Lord and therefore inoffensive. It is always necessary to have a humble spirit, whether there is wealth or not.
  5. Proverbs 16:19 tn Heb “than to divide plunder.” The word “plunder” implies that the wealth taken by the proud was taken violently and wrongfully—spoils are usually taken in warfare. R. N. Whybray translates it with “loot” (Proverbs [CBC], 95). The proud are in rebellion against God, overbearing and oppressive. One should never share the “loot” with them.
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Proverbs 15
Proverbs 17
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Proverbs 18:12
New Living Translation

12 Haughtiness goes before destruction;
    humility precedes honor.

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Proverbs 18:12
New English Translation

12 Before destruction the heart[a] of a person is proud,
but humility comes[b] before honor.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:12 sn The term “heart” is a metonymy of subject, referring to the seat of the spiritual and intellectual capacities—the mind, the will, the motivations and intentions. Proud ambitions and intentions will lead to a fall.
  2. Proverbs 18:12 tn Heb “[is] before honor”; cf. CEV “humility leads to honor.”
  3. Proverbs 18:12 sn The way to honor is through humility (e.g., Prov 11:2; 15:33; 16:18). The humility and exaltation of Jesus provides the classic example (Phil 2:1-10).
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Proverbs 17
Proverbs 19
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Proverbs 21:4
New Living Translation

4 Haughty eyes, a proud heart,
    and evil actions are all sin.

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Proverbs 21:4
New English Translation

4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
what the wicked cultivate[a] is sin.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:4 tc The MT reads “the tillage (נִר, nir) of the wicked.” The LXX, other versions, and some Hebrew manuscripts read “the lamp (נֵר, ner) of the wicked” (so ASV, NASB, NIV, NRSV). Both are difficult in the context.tn The MT’s נִר (nir) refers to “ground that has recently been cultivated” (HALOT 723, s.v.), hence “tillage” (NAB), or “plowing” (KJV). This image goes one step behind the metaphor of planting to the cultivating the ground, but it may still have the harvest from such work in view. What the wicked cultivate (and produce) is sin. The saying perhaps looks at their haughty attitude as the groundwork for of their actions which are sinful. The LXX’s “lamp” does not solve the difficulty of the relationship between the expressions. We would somehow need to equate haughtiness with what the wicked consider a (guiding?) light, so that it is evaluated as sin.
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Proverbs 20
Proverbs 22
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Proverbs 21:24
New Living Translation

24 Mockers are proud and haughty;
    they act with boundless arrogance.

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Proverbs 21:24
New English Translation

24 A proud[a] and arrogant[b] person, whose name is “Scoffer,”[c]
acts[d] with overbearing pride.[e]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:24 tn The word זֵד (zed, “proud”) comes from the verb זִיד (zid, “to boil up; to seethe; to act proudly [or, presumptuously].” Just as water boiling up in a pot will boil over, so the presumptuous person “oversteps” the boundaries.
  2. Proverbs 21:24 tn The word יָהִיר (yahir) means “haughty,” that is, to be or show oneself to be presumptuous or arrogant.
  3. Proverbs 21:24 tn Heb “proud haughty scorner his name” (KJV similar). There are several ways that the line could be translated: (1) “Proud, arrogant—his name is scoffer” or (2) “A proud person, an arrogant person—‘Scoffer’ is his name.” BDB 267 s.v. זֵד suggests, “A presumptuous man, [who is] haughty, scoffer is his name.”
  4. Proverbs 21:24 tn Heb “does.” The Qal active participle “does” serves as the main verb, and the subject is “proud person” in the first line.
  5. Proverbs 21:24 tn The expression בְּעֶבְרַת זָדוֹן (beʿevrat zadon) means “in the overflow of insolence.” The genitive specifies what the overflow is; the proud deal in an overflow of pride. Cf. NIV “overweening pride”; NLT “boundless arrogance.”sn The portrait in this proverb is not merely of one who is self-sufficient, but one who is insolent, scornful, and arrogant.
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Proverbs 20
Proverbs 22
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Proverbs 22:4
New Living Translation

4 True humility and fear of the Lord
    lead to riches, honor, and long life.

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Proverbs 22:4
New English Translation

4 The reward[a] for humility[b] and fearing the Lord[c]
is riches and honor and life.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:4 tn The Hebrew term עֵקֶב (ʿeqev, “reward”) is related to the term meaning “heel”; it refers to the consequences or the reward that follows (akin to the English expression “on the heels of”).
  2. Proverbs 22:4 tn “Humility” is used here in the religious sense of “piety”; it is appropriately joined with “the fear of the Lord.” Some commentators, however, make “the fear of the Lord” the first in the series of rewards for humility, but that arrangement is less likely here.
  3. Proverbs 22:4 tn Heb “the fear of the Lord.” This is an objective genitive; the Lord is the object of the fear.
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Proverbs 21
Proverbs 23
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Proverbs 25:6-7
New Living Translation

6 Don’t demand an audience with the king
    or push for a place among the great.
7 It’s better to wait for an invitation to the head table
    than to be sent away in public disgrace.

Just because you’ve seen something,

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Proverbs 25:6-7
New English Translation

6 Do not honor yourself before the king,
and do not stand in the place of great men;
7 for it is better for him[a] to say to you, “Come up here,”[b]
than to put you lower[c] before a prince,
whom your eyes have seen.[d]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:7 tn The phrase “for him” is supplied in the translation for clarity.
  2. Proverbs 25:7 sn This proverb, covering the two verses, is teaching that it is wiser to be promoted than to risk demotion by self-promotion. The point is clear: Trying to promote oneself could bring on public humiliation, but it would be an honor to have everyone in court hear the promotion by the king.
  3. Proverbs 25:7 tn The two infinitives construct form the contrast in this “better” sayings; each serves as the subject of its respective clause.
  4. Proverbs 25:7 tc Most modern commentators either omit this last line or attach it to the next verse. But it is in the text of the MT as well as the LXX, Syriac, Vulgate, and most modern English versions (although some of them do connect it to the following verse, e.g., NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).
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Proverbs 24
Proverbs 26
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