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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 Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Proverbs 17:12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
12 Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs
than to confront a fool immersed in folly.(A)
Proverbs 25:12
New English Translation
Proverbs 25:12
New English Translation
12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold,[a]
so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens.[b]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:12 sn This saying is another example of emblematic parallelism; the first half is the simile, and the second half makes the point from it: A wise rebuke that is properly received is of lasting value. The rebuke in the ear of an obedient student is like ornaments of fine jewelry.
- Proverbs 25:12 tn The “ear of the listener” refers to the obedient disciple, the one who complies with the reproof he hears. Cf. KJV, ASV, NAB “an obedient ear.”
Proverbs 25:12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Proverbs 25:12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
12 Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold
is a wise rebuke to a listening ear.(A)
Proverbs 27:17
New English Translation
Proverbs 27:17
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 27:17 tn The term “as” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation to clarify the comparison.
- Proverbs 27:17 tn BDB classifies the verb in the first colon as a Qal apocopated jussive of I חָדָה (khadah, “to grow sharp”; BDB 292 s.v.), and the verb in the second half of the verse (יַחַד, yakhad) as a Hiphil apocopated jussive. The difference would be: “let iron by means of iron grow sharp, and let a man sharpen the countenance of his friend.” But it makes more sense to take them both as Hiphil forms, the first being in pause. Other suggestions have been put forward for the meaning of the word, but the verb “sharpens” fits the context the best, and is followed by most English versions. The verb may be a shortened form of the imperfect rather than a jussive.
- Proverbs 27:17 tn Heb “and a man,” although the context does not indicate this should be limited to males only.
- Proverbs 27:17 tn Heb “sharpens the face of his friend.” The use of the word “face” (cf. KJV, ASV “countenance”) would here emphasize that it is the personality or character that is being sharpened. Constructive criticism sharpens character. Use of the wits in interaction that makes two people sharp as a razor (W. McKane, Proverbs [OTL], 615); another example, from the Talmud, is that of two students sharpening each other in the study of the Torah (b. Ta’anit 7a).
Proverbs 27:17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Proverbs 27:17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
17 Iron sharpens iron,
and one person sharpens the wits[a] of another.
Footnotes
- 27.17 Heb face
Proverbs 28:23
New English Translation
Proverbs 28:23
New English Translation
23 The one who reproves[a] another[b] will in the end[c] find more favor
than the one who flatters[d] with the tongue.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:23 tn Or “rebukes” (NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV).
- Proverbs 28:23 tn Heb “a man,” but the context does not indicate this should be limited only to males.
- Proverbs 28:23 tn There is a problem with אַחֲרַי (ʾakharay), which in the MT reads “after me.” This could be taken to mean “after my instructions,” but that is forced. C. H. Toy suggests simply changing it to “after” or “afterward,” i.e., “in the end” (Proverbs [ICC], 504), a solution most English versions adopt. G. R. Driver suggested an Akkadian cognate aḫurrû, “common man,” reading “as a rebuker an ordinary man” (“Hebrew Notes,” ZAW 52 [1934]: 147). The Akkadian term can refer to a coarse, uneducated person (CAD A1: 216), if so here, then “one who rebukes a lout/oaf.”
- Proverbs 28:23 tn The construction uses the Hiphil participle מַחֲלִיק (makhaliq, “makes smooth”) followed by the adverbial accusative of means, the metonymy “tongue”—he makes what he says smooth. This will be pleasing for the moment, but it will offer no constructive help like the rebuke would.
Proverbs 28:23
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Proverbs 28:23
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
23 Whoever rebukes a person will afterward find more favor
than one who flatters with the tongue.(A)
New English Translation (NET)
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New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
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