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Proverbs 24:5-6
English Standard Version
Proverbs 24:5-6
English Standard Version
5 (A)A wise man is full of strength,
and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
6 for by (B)wise guidance you can wage your war,
and in (C)abundance of counselors there is victory.
Proverbs 24:5-6
New English Translation
Proverbs 24:5-6
New English Translation
5 A wise warrior[a] is strong,[b]
and a man of knowledge makes his strength stronger;
6 for with guidance you wage your war,
and with numerous advisers there is victory.[c]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 24:5 sn The twenty-first saying seems to be concerned with the need for wisdom in warfare. In line with that, the word used here is גֶּבֶר (gever), “mighty man; hero; warrior.”
- Proverbs 24:5 tn The expression בַּעוֹז (baʿoz) employs a beth essentiae, meaning he “is strong,” not “in strength.”
- Proverbs 24:6 sn The point of the saying is that wise counsel is necessary in war. Victory, strategy, and counsel are more important than mere military strength—many great armies have been destroyed because of their unwise leaders. See on this theme 11:14; 20:18; 21:22.
Proverbs 24:27
English Standard Version
Proverbs 24:27
English Standard Version
27 (A)Prepare your work outside;
get everything ready for yourself in the field,
and after that build your house.
Proverbs 24:27
New English Translation
Proverbs 24:27
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 24:27 tn The perfect tense with vav following the imperatives takes on the force of an imperative here.
- Proverbs 24:27 sn If the term “house” is understood literally, the proverb would mean that one should be financially secure before building a house (cf. NLT). If “house” is figurative for household (metonymy of subject: children or family), the proverb would mean that one should have financial security and provision before starting a family. Some English versions suggest the latter meaning by using the word “home” for “house” (e.g., TEV, CEV).
Proverbs 25:4-5
English Standard Version
Proverbs 25:4-5
English Standard Version
4 Take away (A)the dross from the silver,
and (B)the smith has material for a vessel;
5 take away (C)the wicked from the presence of the king,
and his (D)throne will be established in righteousness.
Proverbs 25:4-5
New English Translation
Proverbs 25:4-5
New English Translation
4 Remove the dross from the silver,
and material[a] for the silversmith will emerge;
5 remove the wicked from before the king,[b]
and his throne[c] will be established in righteousness.[d]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:4 tn The Hebrew כֶּלִי (keli) means “vessel; utensil” (cf. KJV, ASV, NASB). But purging dross from silver does not produce a “vessel” for the silversmith. Some versions therefore render it “material” (e.g., NIV, NRSV). The LXX says “that it will be entirely pure.” So D. W. Thomas reads כָּלִיל (kalil) and translates it “purified completely” (“Notes on Some Passages in the Book of Proverbs,” VT 15 [1965]: 271-79; cf. NAB). W. McKane simply rearranges the line to say that the smith can produce a work of art (Proverbs [OTL], 580; cf. TEV “a thing of beauty”). The easiest explanation is that “vessel” is a metonymy of effect, “vessel” put for the material that goes into making it (such metonymies occur fairly often in Psalms and Proverbs).
- Proverbs 25:5 sn These two verses present first an illustration and then the point (so it is emblematic parallelism). The passage uses imperatives to teach that the wicked must be purged from the kingdom.
- Proverbs 25:5 sn “Throne” is a metonymy of subject (or adjunct); it is the symbol of the government over which the king presides (cf. NCV, TEV).
- Proverbs 25:5 sn When the king purges the wicked from his court he will be left with righteous counselors and his government therefore will be “established in righteousness”—it will endure through righteousness (cf. NLT “made secure by justice”). But as J. H. Greenstone says, “The king may have perfect ideals and his conduct may be irreproachable, but he may be misled by unscrupulous courtiers” (Proverbs, 264).
Proverbs 25:15
English Standard Version
Proverbs 25:15
English Standard Version
15 With (A)patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.
Proverbs 25:15
New English Translation
Proverbs 25:15
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:15 tn Heb “long of anger” or “forbearance” (so NASB).
- Proverbs 25:15 tn The two imperfect verbs in this line may be nuanced as potential imperfects because what is described could happen, but does not do so as a rule.
- Proverbs 25:15 tn The “tongue” is a metonymy of cause; and so the expression here refers to soft or gentle speech. This fits well with the parallel idea of patience (“long of anger”)—through a calm patient persuasion much can be accomplished. Some English versions relate this figure directly to the persuasion of a ruler in the previous line (cf. TEV “can even convince rulers”).
- Proverbs 25:15 sn The idea of breaking a bone uses the hardest and most firm part of the body in contrast to the “softness of the tongue.” Both are figurative, forming a comparison. A gentle speech can break down any stiff opposition.
Proverbs 29:4
English Standard Version
Proverbs 29:4
English Standard Version
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:4 Or who taxes heavily
Proverbs 29:4
New English Translation
Proverbs 29:4
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:4 tn The form is the Hiphil imperfect of the verb עָמַד (ʿamad, “to stand”), hence, “to cause to stand.” It means that the king makes the nation “stand firm,” with “standing firm” being a figure for strength, security, and stability. Cf. NCV “makes his country (the nation CEV) strong.”
- Proverbs 29:4 tn Or “country.” This term functions as a metonymy of subject for the people in the land.
- Proverbs 29:4 tn The Hebrew text reads אִישׁ תְּרוּמוֹת (ʾish terumot, “a man of offerings”), which could refer to a man who “receives gifts” or “gives gifts.” Because of its destructive nature on the country, here the phrase must mean that he receives or “exacts” the money (cf. NRSV “makes heavy exactions”). This seems to go beyond the ordinary taxation for two reasons: (1) this ruler is a “man of offerings,” indicating that it is in his nature to do this, and (2) it tears down the country. The word “offerings” has been taken to refer to gifts or bribes (cf. NASB, NIV, CEV, NLT), but the word itself suggests more the idea of tribute or taxes that are demanded; this Hebrew word was used in Leviticus for offerings given to the priests, and in Ezek 45:16 for taxes. The point seems to be that this ruler or administrator is breaking the backs of the people with heavy taxes or tribute (e.g., 1 Sam 8:11-18), and this causes division and strife.
Proverbs 29:14
English Standard Version
Proverbs 29:14
English Standard Version
Proverbs 29:14
New English Translation
Proverbs 29:14
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:14 tn The king must judge “in truth” (בֶּאֱמֶת, beʾemet). Some have interpreted this to mean “faithfully” (KJV, ASV) but that is somewhat unclear. The idea is that the poor must be treated fairly and justly (cf. NIV “with fairness”; NRSV “with equity”); “truth” is that which corresponds to the standard of the law revealed by God. There must be no miscarriage of justice for these people simply because they are poor.
- Proverbs 29:14 sn The term “throne” is a metonymy of subject; it represents the dynasty, the reign of this particular king and his descendants. The qualification of the enduring administration is its moral character. The language of this proverb reflects the promise of the Davidic Covenant (e.g., Prov 16:12; 20:28; 25:5; 31:5).
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New English Translation (NET)
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