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Proverbs 1:10
New English Translation
Proverbs 1:10
New English Translation
Admonition to Avoid Easy but Unjust Riches
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- Proverbs 1:10 tn The term חַטָּא (khattaʾ) is the common word for “sinner” in the OT. Because the related verb is used once of sling throwers who miss the mark (Judg 20:16), the idea of sin is often explained as “missing the moral mark” (BDB 306-8 s.v.). But the term should not be restricted to simply falling short of the moral ideal. Its basic meaning is to do wrongly. For a slinger or an archer that would mean missing the mark, but in the arena of morality and relationships, behaving wrongly refers to committing an offense or sinning, doing what is wrong. Here it involves the conscious intent to harm, referring to a gang of robbers.
- Proverbs 1:10 tn The Piel stem of the verb פָּתָה (patah) means “to persuade, entice” (BDB 834 s.v. פָּתָה 1; see, e.g., Judg 14:15; 16:5; Prov 16:29; Hos 2:16). In this context, the imperfect form יְפַתּוּךָ (yefattukha) considers the process of offering persuasion rather than the result of someone being persuaded and may be nuanced modally: “(If) they attempt to persuade you.”
- Proverbs 1:10 tc The MT reads the root אָבָה (ʾavah, “to be willing; to consent”). Some medieval Hebrew mss read the root בּוֹא (boʾ, “to go”): “do not go with them.” The majority of Hebrew mss and the versions support the MT reading, which is the less common word and so the more likely original reading.
Proverbs 1:10
Common English Bible
Proverbs 1:10
Common English Bible
10 My son, don’t let sinners entice you.
Don’t go
Proverbs 4:23-27
New English Translation
Proverbs 4:23-27
New English Translation
23 Guard your heart[a] with all vigilance,[b]
for from it are the sources[c] of life.
24 Remove perverse speech[d] from your mouth;[e]
keep devious talk far from your lips.[f]
25 Let your eyes look directly[g] in front of you
and let your gaze[h] look straight before you.
26 Make the path for your feet[i] level,[j]
so that[k] all your ways may be established.[l]
27 Do not turn[m] to the right or to the left;
turn yourself[n] away from evil.[o]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 4:23 tn Anatomically the Hebrew word לֵב (lev) refers to the “heart.” But abstractly it can refer to one’s inner self, will, understanding, or mind. They did not see the heart and mind in opposition, such that the advice here includes both one’s thinking and feelings.
- Proverbs 4:23 tn Heb “more than any guard.” The preposition מִן (min) has its comparative sense “more than.” The noun מִשְׁמָר (mishmar) refers here to the act of guarding, protection, or vigilance (BDB 1038 s.v. מִשְׁמָר; HALOT 649 s.v. מִשְׁמָר).
- Proverbs 4:23 sn The word תּוֹצְאוֹת (totseʾot, from יָצָא, yatsaʾ) means “outgoings; extremities; sources.” It is used here for starting points, like a fountainhead, and so the translation “sources” works well.
- Proverbs 4:24 tn Heb “crookedness.” The noun עִקְּשׁוּת (ʿiqqeshut) refers to what is morally twisted or perverted. Here it refers to things that are said (cf. NAB “dishonest talk”; NRSV “crooked speech”). The term “mouth” functions as a metonymy of cause for perverse speech. Such perverse talking could be subtle or blatant.
- Proverbs 4:24 tn Heb “crookedness of mouth.”
- Proverbs 4:24 tn Heb “deviousness of lips put far from you.”
- Proverbs 4:25 tn The jussives in this verse are both Hiphil, the first from the verb “to gaze; to look intently [or, carefully],” (נָבַט, navat) and the second from the verb “to be smooth, straight” (יָשָׁר, yashar).
- Proverbs 4:25 tn Heb “your eyelids.” The term “eyelids” is often a poetic synonym for “eye” (it is a metonymy of adjunct, something connected with the eye put for the eye that sees); it may intensify the idea as one might squint to gain a clearer look.
- Proverbs 4:26 tn Heb “path of your foot.”
- Proverbs 4:26 sn The verb is a denominative Piel from the word פֶּלֶס (peles), “balance; scale.” In addition to telling the disciple to keep focused on a righteous life, the sage tells him to keep his path level, which is figurative for living the righteous life.
- Proverbs 4:26 tn Following an imperative, a vav plus imperfect verb can depict purpose or result.
- Proverbs 4:26 tn The Niphal jussive from כּוּן (kun, “to be fixed; to be established; to be steadfast”) continues the idiom of walking and ways for the moral sense in life.
- Proverbs 4:27 sn The two verbs in this verse are from different roots, but nonetheless share the same semantic domain. The first verb is תֵּט (tet), a jussive from נָטָה (natah), which means “to turn aside” (Hiphil); the second verb is the Hiphil imperative of סוּר (sur), which means “to cause to turn to the side” (Hiphil). The disciple is not to leave the path of righteousness, but to stay on the path he must leave evil.
- Proverbs 4:27 tn Heb “your foot” (so NAB, NIV, NRSV). The term רַגְלְךָ (raglekha, “your foot”) is a synecdoche of part (= foot) for the whole person (= “yourself”).
- Proverbs 4:27 tc The LXX adds, “For the way of the right hand God knows, but those of the left hand are distorted; and he himself will make straight your paths and guide your goings in peace.” The ideas presented here are not out of harmony with Proverbs, but the section clearly shows an expansion by the translator. For a brief discussion of whether this addition is Jewish or early Christian, see C. H. Toy, Proverbs (ICC), 99.
Proverbs 4:23-27
Common English Bible
Proverbs 4:23-27
Common English Bible
23 More than anything you guard, protect your mind, for life flows from it.
24 Have nothing to do with a corrupt mouth;
keep devious lips far from you.
25 Focus your eyes straight ahead;
keep your gaze on what is in front of you.
26 Watch your feet on the way,
and all your paths will be secure.
27 Don’t deviate a bit to the right or the left;
turn your feet away from evil.
Proverbs 10:9
New English Translation
Proverbs 10:9
New English Translation
9 The one who conducts himself[a] in integrity[b] will live[c] securely,
but the one who behaves perversely[d] will be found out.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:9 tn Heb “he who walks.” The idiom is used widely in both OT and NT for conduct, behavior, or lifestyle.
- Proverbs 10:9 sn “Integrity” here means “blameless” in conduct. Security follows integrity, because the lifestyle is blameless. The righteous is certain of the course to be followed and does not fear retribution from man or God.
- Proverbs 10:9 tn Heb “walks.”
- Proverbs 10:9 tn Heb “he who perverts his ways” (so NASB); NIV “who takes crooked paths” (NLT similar). The Piel participle מְעַקֵּשׁ (meʿaqqesh) means “make crooked; twisted; perverse.” It is stronger than simply taking crooked paths; it refers to perverting the ways. The one who is devious will not get away with it.
Proverbs 10:9
Common English Bible
Proverbs 10:9
Common English Bible
9 Those who walk in innocence walk with confidence,
but those on crooked paths will be found out.
Proverbs 11:5-6
New English Translation
Proverbs 11:5-6
New English Translation
5 The righteousness of the blameless will make their way smooth,[a]
but the wicked will fall through their own wickedness.[b]
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,[c]
but the treacherous will be ensnared[d] by their own desires.[e]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:5 tn The Piel form of the verb יָשַׁר (yashar) means “to make straight, smooth or easy.” The concrete image is about making a road level and smooth; it represents an easier way of life. It does not mean an easy life in all respects, but means that integrity removes some obstacles and hardships in life, and integrity is the right choice for how to live.
- Proverbs 11:5 sn The wicked may think that they can make their way through life easier by their wickedness, but instead it will at some point bring them down.tn The masculine singular pronouns have been replaces with third person plural pronouns for the sake of style.
- Proverbs 11:6 sn The contrast is between being rescued or delivered (נָצַל, natsal) and being captured (לָכַד, lakhad). Righteousness is freeing; [evil] desires are enslaving.
- Proverbs 11:6 tn The verb לָכַד (lakhad) means “to capture, trap, overpower.” Here it is passive; cf. NIV, TEV “are trapped,” NASB, NKJV “caught,” ESV, NRSV “taken captive.”
- Proverbs 11:6 tc The Hebrew text has the singular construct form וּבְהַוַּת (uvehavvat) which may be from I הַוָּה (havvah, “desire of”) or II הַוָּה (havvah, “disaster of, destruction of”). The line would read “but in the desire of…” (cf. NLT “the ambition of… entraps them”) or “but in the disaster of the treacherous they will be caught.” The BHS editors propose repointing the word to the plural absolute form וּבְהַוֹּת (uvehavvot) resulting in “the treacherous will be ensnared in [their] desires” or “the treacherous will be caught in disasters.” The LXX has a singular form, but it does not represent a Hebrew construct form and not necessarily the same word as the MT: “ungodliness will fall into [the hands of] unrighteousness” or “encounters injustice.”
Proverbs 11:5-6
Common English Bible
Proverbs 11:5-6
Common English Bible
5 The righteousness of the innocent makes their path straight,
but the wicked fall in their wickedness.
6 Those who do right are saved by their righteousness,
but the untrustworthy are caught by their own desires.
Proverbs 14:12
New English Translation
Proverbs 14:12
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:12 tn Heb “which is straight before a man.”sn The proverb contrasts the roadway with the road’s destination. The pathway immediately ahead is straight and smooth, easy to travel. So it would seem like a good path to follow, except that it’s destination is destruction. One view of the proverb is that the straight road represents wickedness that is disguised or rationalized. Another is that the sage recognizes the ambiguities of life; even when good judgment is used with regard to what a person can see, things may may still turn out quite badly.
- Proverbs 14:12 tn Or “but after it are the ways of death.” The phrase “ways of death” features the result of these paths. Here death means ruin (cf. Prov 7:27). Possibly the proverb envisions that the initial path which seemed good leads to other paths whose outcomes are all ruinous. tc The LXX seems to take דַּרְכֵי (darkhe, “ways of”) as יַרְכְּתֵי (yarkete, “depths/recesses of”) and renders “the depths of Hades,” but the verse seems to be concerned with events of this life.
Proverbs 14:12
Common English Bible
Proverbs 14:12
Common English Bible
12 There is a path that may seem straight to someone,
but in the end it is a path to death.
Proverbs 14:16
New English Translation
Proverbs 14:16
New English Translation
16 A wise person is cautious[a] and turns from evil,
but a fool throws off restraint[b] and is overconfident.[c]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:16 tn Heb “fears.” Since the holy name (Yahweh, translated “the Lord”) is not used, it probably does not here mean fear of the Lord, but of the consequences of actions.
- Proverbs 14:16 tn The Hitpael of עָבַר (ʿavar, “to pass over”) means “to pass over the bounds of propriety; to act insolently” (BDB 720 s.v.; cf. ASV “beareth himself insolently”).
- Proverbs 14:16 tn The verb בָּטַח here denotes self-assurance or overconfidence. Fools are not cautious and do not fear the consequences of their actions.
Proverbs 14:16
Common English Bible
Proverbs 14:16
Common English Bible
16 The wise are careful and avoid evil,
but fools become excited and overconfident.
Proverbs 14:22
New English Translation
Proverbs 14:22
New English Translation
22 Do not those who devise[a] evil go astray?
But those who plan good exhibit[b] faithful covenant love.[c]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 14:22 sn The verb חָרַשׁ (kharash) means (1) literally: “to cut in; to engrave; to plow,” describing the work of a craftsman; and (2) figuratively: “to devise,” describing the mental activity of planning evil (what will harm people) in the first colon, and planning good (what will benefit them) in the second colon.
- Proverbs 14:22 tn The term “exhibit” does not appear in the Hebrew, but is implied by the antithetic parallelism and supplied in the translation for clarity and smoothness.
- Proverbs 14:22 tn Heb “loyal-love and truth.” The two terms חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת (khesed veʾemet) often form a hendiadys: “faithful love” or better “faithful covenant love.”
Proverbs 14:22
Common English Bible
Proverbs 14:22
Common English Bible
22 Don’t those who plan evil go astray?
Those who plan good receive loyalty and faithfulness.
Proverbs 15:3
New English Translation
Proverbs 15:3
New English Translation
3 The eyes of the Lord[a] are in every place,
keeping watch on[b] those who are evil and those who are good.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:3 sn The proverb uses anthropomorphic language to describe God’s exacting and evaluating knowledge of all people.
- Proverbs 15:3 tn The form צֹפוֹת (tsofot, “watching”) is a feminine plural participle agreeing with “eyes.” God’s watching eyes comfort good people but convict evil.
Proverbs 15:3
Common English Bible
Proverbs 15:3
Common English Bible
3 The Lord’s eyes are everywhere,
keeping watch on evil and good people.
Proverbs 16:6
New English Translation
Proverbs 16:6
New English Translation
6 Through loyal love and truth[a] iniquity is appeased;[b]
through fearing the Lord[c] one avoids[d] evil.[e]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:6 sn These two words are often found together to form a nominal hendiadys: “faithful loyal love.” The couplet often characterizes the Lord, but here in parallel to the fear of the Lord it refers to the faithfulness of the believer. Such faith and faithfulness bring atonement for sin.
- Proverbs 16:6 tn Heb “is atoned”; KJV “is purged”; NAB “is expiated.” The verb is from I כָּפַר (kafar, “to atone; to expiate; to pacify; to appease”; HALOT 493-94 s.v. I כפר). This root should not be confused with the identically spelled Homonym II כָּפַר (kafar, “to cover over”; HALOT 494 s.v. II *כפר). Atonement in the OT expiated sins, it did not merely cover them over (cf. NLT). C. H. Toy explains the meaning by saying it affirms that the divine anger against sin is turned away and man’s relation to God is as though he had not sinned (Proverbs [ICC], 322). Genuine repentance, demonstrated by loyalty and truthfulness, appeases the anger of God against one’s sin.
- Proverbs 16:6 tn Heb “fear of the Lord.” The term יְהוָה (yehvah, “the Lord”) functions as an objective genitive: “fearing the Lord.”
- Proverbs 16:6 tn Heb “turns away from”; NASB “keeps away from.”
- Proverbs 16:6 sn The Hebrew word translated “evil” (רַע, raʿ) can in some contexts mean “calamity” or “disaster,” but here it seems more likely to mean “evil” in the sense of sin. Faithfulness to the Lord brings freedom from sin. The verse uses synonymous parallelism with a variant: One half speaks of atonement for sin because of the life of faith, and the other of avoidance of sin because of the fear of the Lord.
Proverbs 16:6
Common English Bible
Proverbs 16:6
Common English Bible
6 Love and faithfulness reconcile guilt;
the fear of the Lord turns away evil.
Proverbs 16:17
New English Translation
Proverbs 16:17
New English Translation
17 The highway[a] of the upright is to turn away[b] from evil;
the one who guards[c] his way safeguards his life.[d]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:17 sn The point of righteous living is made with the image of a highway, a raised and well-graded road (a hypocatastasis, implying a comparison between a highway and the right way of living).
- Proverbs 16:17 tn The form סוּר (sur) is a Qal infinitive; it indicates that a purpose of the righteous life is to turn away from evil. “Evil” here has the sense of sinful living. So the first line asserts that the well-cared-for life avoids sin.
- Proverbs 16:17 sn The second half of the verse uses two different words for “guard”; this one is נֹצֵר (notser) “the one who guards his way,” and the first is שֹׁמֵר (shomer) “the one who guards his life” (the order of the words is reversed in the translation). The second colon then explains further the first (synthetic parallelism), because to guard one’s way preserves life.
- Proverbs 16:17 tc The LXX adds three lines after 17a and one after 17b: “The paths of life turn aside from evils, and the ways of righteousness are length of life; he who receives instruction will be prosperous, and he who regards reproofs will be made wise; he who guards his ways preserves his soul, and he who loves his life will spare his mouth.”
Proverbs 16:17
Common English Bible
Proverbs 16:17
Common English Bible
17 The road of those who do right turns away from evil;
those who protect their path guard their lives.
Proverbs 19:21
New English Translation
Proverbs 19:21
New English Translation
21 There are many plans[a] in a person’s mind,[b]
but it[c] is the counsel[d] of the Lord that will stand.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:21 sn The plans (from the Hebrew verb חָשַׁב [khashav], “to think; to reckon; to devise”) in the human heart are many. But only those which God approves will succeed.
- Proverbs 19:21 tn Heb “in the heart of a man” (cf. NAB, NIV). Here “heart” is used for the seat of thoughts, plans, and reasoning, so the translation uses “mind.” In contemporary English “heart” is more often associated with the seat of emotion than with the seat of planning and reasoning.
- Proverbs 19:21 tn Heb “but the counsel of the Lord, it will stand.” The construction draws attention to the “counsel of the Lord”; it is an independent nominative absolute, and the resumptive independent pronoun is the formal subject of the verb.
- Proverbs 19:21 tn The antithetical parallelism pairs “counsel” with “plans.” “Counsel of the Lord” (עֲצַת יְהוָה, ʿatsat yehvah) is literally “advice” or “counsel” with the connotation of “plan” in this context (cf. NIV, NRSV, NLT “purpose”; NCV “plan”; TEV “the Lord’s will”).sn The point of the proverb is that the human being with many plans is uncertain, but the Lord with a sure plan gives correct counsel.
Proverbs 19:21
Common English Bible
Proverbs 19:21
Common English Bible
21 Many plans are in a person’s mind,
but the Lord’s purpose will succeed.
Proverbs 21:15
New English Translation
Proverbs 21:15
New English Translation
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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
Common English Bible
Proverbs 21:15
Common English Bible
15 Acting justly is a joy to the righteous,
but dreaded by those who do evil.
New English Translation (NET)
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