Proverbs 17:26
New Living Translation
26 It is wrong to punish the godly for being good
or to flog leaders for being honest.
Proverbs 17:26
New English Translation
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:26 tn Heb “not good.” This is an example of tapeinosis—an understatement that implies the worst-case scenario: “it is terrible.”
- Proverbs 17:26 tn The verb עָנַשׁ (ʿanash), here a Qal infinitive construct, properly means “to fine” (cf. NAB, NRSV, NLT) but is taken here to mean “to punish” in general. The infinitive functions as the subject of the clause.
- Proverbs 17:26 tn The form is the Hiphil infinitive construct from נָכָה (nakhah, “to strike; to smite”). It may well refer to public beatings, so “flog” is used in the translation, since “strike” could refer to an individual’s action and “beat” could be taken to refer to competition.
- Proverbs 17:26 tn Heb “[is] against uprightness.” The expression may be rendered “contrary to what is right.”sn The two lines could be synonymous parallelism, but the second part is being used to show how wrong the first act would be—punishing the righteous makes about as much sense as beating an official of the court for doing what is just.
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,
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]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:7 tn The phrase “for him” is supplied in the translation for clarity.
- 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.
- Proverbs 25:7 tn The two infinitives construct form the contrast in this “better” sayings; each serves as the subject of its respective clause.
- 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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