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Proverbs 3:18
English Standard Version
Proverbs 3:18
English Standard Version
18 She is (A)a tree of life to those who (B)lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed.
Proverbs 3:18
New English Translation
Proverbs 3:18
New English Translation
18 She is like[a] a tree of life[b] to those who grasp onto her,
and everyone who takes hold of her will be blessed.[c]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:18 tn The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor.
- Proverbs 3:18 sn The metaphor compares wisdom to the symbol of vitality and fullness of life. This might be an allusion to Gen 3:22, suggesting that what was lost as a result of the Fall may be recovered through wisdom: long and beneficial life (R. Marcus, “The Tree of Life in Proverbs,” JBL 62 [1943]: 117-20).
- Proverbs 3:18 tn The singular participle מְאֻשָּׁר (meʾushar, literally, “he will be blessed”) functions as a distributive singular for a plural subject (GKC 464 §145.l): “each and everyone will be blessed.” Not recognizing this point of syntax, the BHS editors unnecessarily suggest emending this singular form to the plural.
Proverbs 8:32-36
English Standard Version
Proverbs 8:32-36
English Standard Version
32 “And now, (A)O sons, listen to me:
(B)blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 (C)Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
34 (D)Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
35 For (E)whoever finds me (F)finds life
and (G)obtains favor from the Lord,
36 but he who fails to find me (H)injures himself;
all who (I)hate me (J)love death.”
Proverbs 8:32-36
New English Translation
Proverbs 8:32-36
New English Translation
32 “So now, children,[a] listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Listen to my instruction[b] so that you may be wise,[c]
and do not neglect it.
34 Blessed is the one[d] who listens to me,
watching[e] at my doors day by day,
waiting[f] beside my doorway.[g]
35 For the one who finds me has found[h] life
and received[i] favor from the Lord.
36 But the one who misses me[j] brings harm[k] to himself;[l]
all who hate[m] me love death.”
Footnotes
- Proverbs 8:32 tn Heb “sons.”
- Proverbs 8:33 tn Heb “discipline.”
- Proverbs 8:33 tn The construction uses two imperatives joined with the vav (ו); this is a volitive sequence in which result or consequence is being expressed.
- Proverbs 8:34 tn Heb “the man.”
- Proverbs 8:34 tn The form לִשְׁקֹד (lishqod) is the infinitive construct serving epexegetically in the sentence. It explains how the person will listen to wisdom.
- Proverbs 8:34 tn Heb “keeping” or “guarding.”
- Proverbs 8:34 tn Heb “at the posts of my doors” (so KJV, ASV).
- Proverbs 8:35 tc The Kethib reads the verb as a plural participle: “the one who finds me are finders of life.” The LXX reads a plural subject: “those who find me.” But the Hebrew Qere reads a singular perfect verb. The next verb is a preterite, which commonly follows the perfect but very rarely a participle. The perfect form of a dynamic verb should be translated as past or perfective.
- Proverbs 8:35 tn The preterite with vav (ו) consecutive continues the time frame of the perfect verb that came before it. sn The sage uses these verb forms in contrast with the following verse, which is present tense. The antithetic parallelism contrasts not just the subject (who finds vs. who misses) and the verb (to find vs. to harm) but also the state of the outcome. This person found life and continues in the benefit: “had found life.”
- Proverbs 8:36 tn Heb “the one sinning [against] me.” The verb חָטָא (khataʾ, “to sin, to err”) forms a contrast with “find” in the previous verse, and so has its basic meaning of “failing to find, miss.”
- Proverbs 8:36 tn The Qal active participle functions verbally here. The word stresses both social and physical harm and violence. sn Brings harm. While the previous verse used past time verbs, the sage employs the participle here as an ongoing activity. Whoever tries to live without wisdom is inviting all kinds of disaster into his life.
- Proverbs 8:36 tn Heb “his soul.”
- Proverbs 8:36 tn The basic idea of the verb שָׂנֵא (saneʾ, “to hate”) is that of rejection. Its antonym is also used in the line, “love,” which has the idea of choosing. So not choosing (i.e., hating) wisdom amounts to choosing (i.e., loving) death.
Proverbs 10:28
English Standard Version
Proverbs 10:28
English Standard Version
Proverbs 10:28
New English Translation
Proverbs 10:28
New English Translation
28 The hope[a] of the righteous is joy,
but the expectation of the wicked perishes.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:28 sn This proverb contrasts the hopes of the righteous and the wicked. The righteous will see their hopes fulfilled. The saying is concerned with God’s justice. The words תּוֹחֶלֶת (tokhelet, from יָחַל, yakhal) and תִּקְוַת (tiqvat, from קָוָה, qavah) are synonyms, both emphasizing eager expectations, longings, waiting in hope.
Proverbs 12:25
English Standard Version
Proverbs 12:25
English Standard Version
25 (A)Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.
Proverbs 12:25
New English Translation
Proverbs 12:25
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:25 tn The word “anxiety” (דְּאָגָה, deʾagah) combines anxiety and fear—anxious fear (e.g., Jer 49:23; Ezek 4:16; for the related verb see Ps 38:18; Jer 17:8).
- Proverbs 12:25 tn Heb “bows it [= his heart] down.” Anxiety weighs heavily on the heart, causing depression. The spirit is brought low.
- Proverbs 12:25 tn Heb “good.” The Hebrew word “good” (טוֹב, tov) refers to what is beneficial for life, promotes life, creates life or protects life. The “good word” here would include encouragement, kindness, and insight—the person needs to regain the proper perspective on life and renew his confidence.
- Proverbs 12:25 tn Heb “makes it [= his heart] glad.” The similarly sounding terms יַשְׁחֶנָּה (yashkhennah, “weighs it down”) and יְשַׂמְּחֶנָּה (yesammekhennah, “makes it glad”) create a wordplay (paronomasia) that dramatically emphasizes the polar opposite emotional states: depression versus joy.
Proverbs 15:13
English Standard Version
Proverbs 15:13
English Standard Version
Proverbs 15:13
New English Translation
Proverbs 15:13
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:13 tn The contrast in this proverb is between the “joyful heart” (Heb “a heart of joy,” using an attributive genitive) and the “painful heart” (Heb “pain of the heart,” using a genitive of specification).
- Proverbs 15:13 sn The verb יֵיטִב (yetiv) normally means “to make good,” but here “to make the face good,” that is, there is a healthy, favorable, uplifted expression. The antithesis is the pained heart that crushes the spirit. C. H. Toy observes that a broken spirit is expressed by a sad face, while a cheerful face shows a courageous spirit (Proverbs [ICC], 308).
Proverbs 15:15
English Standard Version
Proverbs 15:15
English Standard Version
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but (A)the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
Proverbs 15:15
New English Translation
Proverbs 15:15
New English Translation
15 All the days[a] of the afflicted[b] are bad,[c]
but one with[d] a cheerful heart has a continual feast.[e]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:15 sn The “days” represent what happens on those days (metonymy of subject).
- Proverbs 15:15 tn The contrast is between the “afflicted” and the “good of heart” (a genitive of specification, “cheerful/healthy heart/spirit/attitude”). sn The parallelism suggests that the afflicted is one afflicted within his spirit, for the proverb is promoting a healthy frame of mind.
- Proverbs 15:15 tn Or “evil”; or “catastrophic.”
- Proverbs 15:15 tn “one with” is supplied.
- Proverbs 15:15 sn The image of a continual feast signifies the enjoyment of what life offers (cf. TEV “happy people…enjoy life”). The figure is a hypocatastasis; among its several implications are joy, fulfillment, abundance, pleasure.
Proverbs 15:30
English Standard Version
Proverbs 15:30
English Standard Version
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:30 Hebrew makes fat
Proverbs 15:30
New English Translation
Proverbs 15:30
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:30 tc The LXX has “the eye that sees beautiful things.” D. W. Thomas suggests pointing מְאוֹר (meʾor) as a Hophal participle, “a fine sight cheers the mind” (“Textual and Philological Notes,” 205). But little is to be gained from this change.tn Heb “light of the eyes” (so KJV, NRSV). The expression may indicate the gleam in the eyes of the one who tells the good news, as the parallel clause suggests.
- Proverbs 15:30 tn Heb “makes fat the bones;” NAB “invigorates the bones;” NASB “puts fat on the bones.” The word “bones” is a metonymy of subject, the bones representing the whole body. The idea of “making fat” signifies by comparison (hypocatastasis) with fat things that the body will be healthy and prosperous (e.g., Prov 17:22; 25:25; Gen 45:27-28; Isa 52:7-8). Good news makes the person feel good in body and soul.
Proverbs 16:20
English Standard Version
Proverbs 16:20
English Standard Version
20 Whoever gives thought to the word[a] (A)will discover good,
and blessed is he (B)who trusts in the Lord.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:20 Or to a matter
Proverbs 16:20
New English Translation
Proverbs 16:20
New English Translation
20 The one who deals wisely[a] in a matter[b] will find success,[c]
and blessed[d] is the one who trusts in the Lord.[e]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:20 tn Heb “he who is prudent” or “he who deals wisely” (cf. KJV). The proverb seems to be referring to wise business concerns and the reward for the righteous. One who deals wisely in a matter will find good results. R. N. Whybray sees a contrast here: “The shrewd man of business will succeed well, but the happy man is he who trusts the Lord” (Proverbs [CBC], 92). Synonymous parallelism is more appropriate.
- Proverbs 16:20 tn Or “he who gives heed to a word,” that is, “who listens to instruction” (cf. NIV, NLT).
- Proverbs 16:20 tn Heb “good” (so KJV, ASV).
- Proverbs 16:20 tn Although traditionally this word is translated “happy” (cf. KJV, ASV, NAB, NRSV, NLT), such a translation can be misleading because the word means far more than that. It describes the heavenly bliss that comes from knowing one is right with God and following God’s precepts. The “blessed” could be at odds with the world (Ps 1:1-3).
- Proverbs 16:20 tn Heb “and the one who trusts in the Lord—blessed is he.”
Proverbs 17:22
English Standard Version
Proverbs 17:22
English Standard Version
Proverbs 17:22
New English Translation
Proverbs 17:22
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:22 sn Heb “a heart of rejoicing”; KJV “a merry heart”; NAB, NASB “a joyful heart.” This attributive genitive refers to the mind or psyche. A happy and healthy outlook on life brings healing.
- Proverbs 17:22 tc The word “healing” is a hapax legomenon; some have suggested changes, such as to Arabic jihatu (“face”) or to גְּוִיָּה (geviyyah, “body”) as in the Syriac and Tg. Prov 17:22, but the MT makes sense as it is and should be retained. tn Heb “it causes good a healing.” This means it promotes healing.
- Proverbs 17:22 sn The “crushed spirit” refers to one who is depressed (cf. NAB “a depressed spirit”). “Crushed” is figurative (an implied comparison) for the idea that one’s psyche or will to go on is beaten down by circumstances.
- Proverbs 17:22 sn The “bones” figuratively represent the whole body encased in a boney framework (metonymy of subject). “Fat bones” in scripture means a healthy body (3:8; 15:30; 16:24), but “dried up” bones signify unhealthiness and lifelessness (cf. Ezek 37:1-4).
Proverbs 23:25
English Standard Version
Proverbs 23:25
English Standard Version
Proverbs 23:25
New English Translation
Proverbs 23:25
New English Translation
25 May your father and your mother have joy;
may she who bore you rejoice.[a]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 23:25 tn The form תָגֵל (tagel) is clearly a short form and therefore a jussive (“may she…rejoice”); if this second verb is a jussive, then the parallel יִשְׂמַח (yismakh) should be a jussive also (“may your father and your mother have joy”).
Proverbs 24:17-18
English Standard Version
Proverbs 24:17-18
English Standard Version
17 (A)Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased,
and turn away his anger from him.
Proverbs 24:17-18
New English Translation
Proverbs 24:17-18
New English Translation
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,[a]
and when he stumbles do not let your heart rejoice,
18 lest the Lord see it, and be displeased,[b]
and turn his wrath away from him.[c]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 24:17 sn The saying (vv. 17, 18) warns against gloating over the misfortune of one’s enemies. The prohibition is formed with two negated jussives “do not rejoice” and “let not be glad,” the second qualified by “your heart” as the subject, signifying the inner satisfaction of such a defeat.
- Proverbs 24:18 tn Heb “and [it is] evil in his eyes.”
- Proverbs 24:18 sn The judgment of God should strike a note of fear in the heart of people (e.g., Lev 19:17-18). His judgment is not to be taken lightly, or personalized as a victory. If that were to happen, then the Lord might take pity on the enemies in their calamity, for he champions the downtrodden and defeated. These are probably personal enemies; the imprecatory psalms and the prophetic oracles present a different set of circumstances for the downfall of God’s enemies—even the book of Proverbs says that brings joy to the community.
Proverbs 28:20
English Standard Version
Proverbs 28:20
English Standard Version
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
but whoever hastens to be rich (A)will not go unpunished.
Proverbs 28:20
New English Translation
Proverbs 28:20
New English Translation
20 A faithful person[a] will have an abundance of blessings,
but the one who hastens[b] to gain riches will not go unpunished.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:20 tn Heb “a man of faithfulness,” although the context does not indicate this should be limited only to males.sn The text does not qualify the nature of the faithfulness. While this would certainly have implications for the person’s righteous acts, its primary meaning may be his diligence and reliability in his work. His faithful work will bring the returns.
- Proverbs 28:20 sn The proverb is not rebuking diligent labor. One who is eager to get rich quickly is the opposite of the faithful person. The first person is faithful to God and to the covenant community; the second is trying to get rich as quickly as possible, at the least without doing an honest day’s work and at the worst dishonestly. In a hurry to gain wealth, he falls into various schemes and will pay for it. Tg. Prov 28:20 interprets this to say he hastens through deceit and wrongdoing.
Proverbs 29:18
English Standard Version
Proverbs 29:18
English Standard Version
18 Where (A)there is no prophetic vision the people (B)cast off restraint,[a]
but blessed is he who (C)keeps the law.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:18 Or the people are discouraged
Proverbs 29:18
New English Translation
Proverbs 29:18
New English Translation
18 When there is no prophetic vision[a] the people cast off restraint,[b]
but the one who keeps the law,[c] blessed is he![d]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:18 tn Heb “no vision.” The Hebrew word “vision” (from the verb חָזָה [khazah, “to see”]) refers to divine communication to prophets (as in 1 Sam 3:1) and not to individual goals or plans. C. H. Toy sees a problem here: The most calamitous period of Israel’s history was when prophetic vision was at its height, whereas people were often more obedient when God was silent. He also notes that in the book of Proverbs there is no mention of prophetic teaching with wisdom as a guide. So he emends the word to “guidance” following the LXX (Proverbs [ICC], 512). The TEV has “guidance”; the NIV retains “revelation.” It must be stated that the prophetic ministry was usually in response to the calamitous periods, calling the people back to God. Without them the downward rush to anarchy and destruction would have been faster than with these prophetic calls from God.
- Proverbs 29:18 tn The verb פָּרַע (paraʿ) means “to let go; to let alone.” It occurs here in the Niphal with the meaning of “[the people] are let loose,” meaning, they cast off restraint (e.g., Exod 32:25). Cf. NLT “run wild.”
- Proverbs 29:18 sn The law here refers to scripture, the concrete form of revelation. So the two halves of the verse provide the contrast: When there is no prophetic revelation there is chaos, but those who keep the revelation contained in scripture find blessing.
- Proverbs 29:18 tn There is a tendency among commentators and English versions to translate אַשְׁרֵהוּ (ʾashrehu) as “happy is he!” (cf. KJV, ASV, NAB, NASB, TEV, NLT). But “happy” can be a misleading translation. The Hebrew word refers to a heavenly bliss, an inner joy, that comes from knowing one is right with God and experiencing his blessing. “Happiness,” on the other hand, depends on what happens.
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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