Font Size
Proverbs 25:9-10
Lexham English Bible
Proverbs 25:9-10
Lexham English Bible
9 Argue your argument with your neighbor himself,
the secret of another do not disclose,
10 lest he who hears shame you
and your ill repute will not end.
Proverbs 25:9-10
New English Translation
Proverbs 25:9-10
New English Translation
9 When you argue a case[a] with your neighbor,
do not reveal the secret of another person,[b]
10 lest the one who hears it put you to shame
and your infamy[c] will never go away.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:9 tn The verse begins with the direct object רִיבְךָ (rivekha, “your case”) followed by the imperative from the same root, רִיב (riv, “argue”). It is paralleled by the negated Piel jussive. The construction of the clauses indicates that the first colon is foundational to the second: “Argue…but do not reveal,” or better, “When you argue…do not reveal.”
- Proverbs 25:9 sn The concern is that in arguing with one person a secret about another might be divulged, perhaps deliberately in an attempt to clear oneself. The point then is about damaging a friendship by involving the friend without necessity or warrant in someone else’s quarrel.
- Proverbs 25:10 tn The noun דִּבָּה (dibbah, “infamy; defamation; evil report; whispering”) is used of an evil report here (e.g., Gen 37:2), namely a true report of evil doing. So if a person betrays another person’s confidence, he will never be able to live down the bad reputation he made as one who betrays secrets (cf. NIV).
Proverbs 25:14
Lexham English Bible
Proverbs 25:14
Lexham English Bible
14 Like clouds and wind when there is no rain,
so too is a man who boasts in a gift of deception.
Proverbs 25:14
New English Translation
Proverbs 25:14
New English Translation
14 Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain,[a]
so is the one who boasts[b] of a gift not given.[c]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:14 sn The emblem now is one of clouds and winds that would be expected to produce rain; they gain attention and raise people’s expectations but prove to be disappointing when no rain is forthcoming, and hence could be thought of as deceitful.
- Proverbs 25:14 tn The form מִתְהַלֵּל (mithallel) is the Hitpael participle of the well-known word for “praise,” but in this stem it means “to praise oneself” or “to boast.” The description of “windbag” seems appropriate in this context.
- Proverbs 25:14 tn Heb “a gift of falsehood.” This would mean that the individual brags about giving a gift, when there is no gift.
Proverbs 25:18
Lexham English Bible
Proverbs 25:18
Lexham English Bible
18 Like a club and sword and a sharp arrow
is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
Proverbs 25:18
New English Translation
Proverbs 25:18
New English Translation
18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow,[a]
so is the one who testifies against[b] his neighbor as a false witness.[c]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:18 sn The first line identifies the emblem of the proverb: False witnesses are here compared to deadly weapons because they can cause the death of innocent people (e.g., Exod 20:16; Deut 5:20; Prov 14:5).
- Proverbs 25:18 tn The verb עָנָה (ʿanah) followed by the preposition ב (bet) with its object means “to testify against” (answer against someone). With the preposition ל (lamed) it would mean “to testify for” someone. Here the false witness is an adversary, hence the comparison with deadly weapons.
- Proverbs 25:18 tn While עֵד (ʿed) could be interpreted as “evidence” (a meaning that came from a metonymy—what the witness gives in court), its normal meaning is “witness.” Here it would function as an adverbial accusative, specifying how he would answer in court.
Proverbs 25:23
Lexham English Bible
Proverbs 25:23
Lexham English Bible
23 The wind of the north produces rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry faces.
Proverbs 25:23
New English Translation
Proverbs 25:23
New English Translation
Read full chapter
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:23 sn One difficulty here is that it is the west wind that brings rain to Israel (e.g., 1 Kgs 18:41-44). C. H. Toy suggests that the expression is general, referring to a northwest wind—unless it is an error (Proverbs [ICC], 468). J. P. M. van der Ploeg suggests that the saying originated outside the land, perhaps in Egypt (“Prov 25:23, ” VT 3 [1953]: 189-92). But this would imply it was current in a place where it made no sense. R. N. Whybray suggests that the solution lies with the verb “brings forth” (תְּחוֹלֵל, tekholel); he suggests redefining it to mean “repels, holds back” (cf. KJV “driveth away”). Thus, the point would be that the north wind holds back the rain just as an angry look holds back slander (Proverbs [CBC], 149). But the support for this definition is not convincing. Seeing this as a general reference to northerly winds is the preferred solution.
- Proverbs 25:23 tn Heb “a tongue of secret” or “a hidden tongue,” referring to someone who goes around whispering about people behind their backs (cf. KJV, NAB, NASB, NRSV “a backbiting tongue”).
- Proverbs 25:23 tn The phrase “brings forth” does not appear in Hebrew in this line but is implied by the parallelism with the previous line; it is supplied here in the translation for clarity.
- Proverbs 25:23 sn The verse implies a comparison between the two parts to make the point that certain things automatically bring certain results. Gossiping words will infuriate people as easily as the northerly winds bring the cold rain.
Lexham English Bible (LEB)
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software
New English Translation (NET)
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.