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Proverbs 3:9-10
New English Translation
Proverbs 3:9-10
New English Translation
9 Honor[a] the Lord from your wealth
and from the firstfruits of all your crops;[b]
10 then your barns will be filled completely,[c]
and your vats[d] will overflow[e] with new wine.[f]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:9 tn The imperative כַּבֵּד (kabbed, “honor”) functions as a command, instruction, counsel or exhortation. To honor God means to give him the rightful place of authority by rendering to him gifts of tribute. One way to acknowledge God in one’s ways (v. 6) is to honor him with one’s wealth (v. 9).
- Proverbs 3:9 tn Heb “produce.” The noun תְּבוּאָה (tevuʾah) has a two-fold range of meaning: (1) “product; yield” of the earth (= crops; harvest) and (2) “income; revenue” in general (BDB 100 s.v.). The imagery in vv. 9-10 is agricultural; however, all Israelites—not just farmers—were expected to give the best portion (= firstfruits) of their income to the Lord.
- Proverbs 3:10 tn Heb “with plenty” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV); NIV “to overflowing.” The noun שָׂבָע (savaʿ, “plenty; satiety”) functions as an adverbial accusative of manner or contents: “completely.”tc The LXX reads “grain,” implying שֶׁבֶר (shever, “grain) instead of שָׂבָע (savaʿ, “plenty”), but the ideas are similar.
- Proverbs 3:10 sn This pictures the process of pressing grapes in which the upper receptacle is filled with grapes and the lower one catches the juice. The harvest of grapes will be so plentiful that the lower vat will overflow with grape juice. The pictures in v. 10 are metonymies of effect for cause (= the great harvest that God will provide when they honor him).
- Proverbs 3:10 tn Heb “burst open.” The verb פָּרַץ (parats, “to burst open”) functions as hyperbole here to emphasize the fullness of the wine vats (BDB 829 s.v. 9).
- Proverbs 3:10 tn The word תִּרוֹשׁ (tirosh) appears to be a loanword that refers to unfermented grape juice or sometimes to fresh wine (HALOT 1727-28).sn Most of the economy of ancient Israel was agricultural. The Lord commanded that Israel give the firstfruits of the land (e.g. Deut 26:1-3) and promised to bless Israel with the produce of the land when she would obey God (e.g. Deut 28:1-13).
Proverbs 3:9-10
English Standard Version
Proverbs 3:9-10
English Standard Version
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with (A)the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your (B)barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Proverbs 3:27-28
New English Translation
Proverbs 3:27-28
New English Translation
Wisdom Demonstrated in Relationships with People
27 Do not withhold good from those who need it,[a]
when you[b] have the ability[c] to help.[d]
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go! Return tomorrow
and I will give it,” when you have it with you at the time.[e]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:27 tn The MT has “from its possessors” and the LXX simply has “from the poor.” C. H. Toy (Proverbs [ICC], 77) suggests emending the text to read “neighbors” (changing בְּעָלָיו [beʿalayv] to רֵעֶיךָ, reʿekha) but that is gratuitous. The idea can be explained as being those who need to possess it, or as BDB 127 s.v. בַּעַל has it with an objective genitive, “the owner of it” = the one to whom it is due.
- Proverbs 3:27 tc The Kethib is the dual form יָדֶיךָ (yadekha, “your hands”); the Qere is the singular יָדְךָ (yadekha, “your hand”). Normally the Qere is preferred because it represents an alternate textual tradition that the Masoretes viewed as superior to the received text.tn Heb “your hand.” The term יָדְךָ (yadekha, “your hand”) functions as a synecdoche of part (= your hand) for the whole person (= you).
- Proverbs 3:27 tn Heb “it is to the power of your hand.” This expression is idiomatic for “it is in your power” or “you have the ability” (Gen 31:29; Deut 28:23; Neh 5:5; Mic 2:1). The noun אֵל (ʾel) means “power” (BDB 43 s.v. 7), and יָד (yad, “hand”) is used figuratively to denote “ability” (BDB 390 s.v. 2). Several translations render this as “when it is in your power to do it” (KJV, RSV, NRSV, NASB) or “when it is in your power to act” (NIV). W. McKane suggests, “when it is in your power to confer it” (Proverbs [OTL], 215).
- Proverbs 3:27 tn Heb “to do [it]” (cf. KJV, NASB, NRSV).
- Proverbs 3:28 tn Heb “But there it is with you.” The circumstantial clause introduces a condition which true at the same time as as an earlier clause. The words “at the time” were for clarity.
Proverbs 3:27-28
English Standard Version
Proverbs 3:27-28
English Standard Version
28 (B)Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:27 Hebrew Do not withhold good from its owners
Proverbs 11:24-25
New English Translation
Proverbs 11:24-25
New English Translation
24 One person is generous[a] and yet grows more wealthy,[b]
but another withholds more than he should[c] and comes to poverty.[d]
25 A generous person[e] will be enriched,[f]
and the one who provides water[g] for others[h] will himself be satisfied.[i]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:24 tn Heb “There is one who scatters.” The participle מְפַזֵּר (mefazzer, “one who scatters”) refers to charity rather than farming or investments (and is thus a hypocatastasis). Cf. CEV “become rich by being generous.”
- Proverbs 11:24 tn Heb “increases.” The verb means that he grows even more wealthy. This is a paradox: Generosity determines prosperity in God’s economy.
- Proverbs 11:24 tn Heb “more than what is right.” This one is not giving enough, but saving for himself.
- Proverbs 11:24 tn Heb “comes to lack.” The person who withholds will come to the diminishing of his wealth. The verse uses hyperbole to teach that giving to charity does not make anyone poor, and neither does refusal to give ensure prosperity.
- Proverbs 11:25 tn Heb “the soul of blessing.” The genitive functions attributively. “Blessing” refers to a gift (Gen 33:11) or a special favor (Josh 15:19). The term נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “soul”) functions as a synecdoche of part (= soul) for the whole (= person); see BDB 660 s.v. 4.
- Proverbs 11:25 tn Heb “will grow fat.” Drawing on the standard comparison of fatness and abundance (Deut 32:15), the term means “become rich, prosperous.”
- Proverbs 11:25 tn The verb מַרְוֶה (marveh, “to be saturated; to drink one’s fill”) draws a comparison between providing water for others with providing for those in need (e.g., Jer 31:25; Lam 3:15). The kind act will be reciprocated.
- Proverbs 11:25 tn The phrase “for others” does not appear in the Hebrew but is implied by the causative Hiphil verb which normally takes a direct object; it is elided in the Hebrew for the sake of emphasis. It is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity and smoothness.
- Proverbs 11:25 tn This verb also means “to pour water,” and so continues the theme of the preceding participle: The one who gives refreshment to others will be refreshed. BDB 924 s.v. רָוָה lists the form יוֹרֶא (yoreʾ) as a Hophal imperfect of רָוָה (ravah) and translates it “will himself also be watered” (cf. KJV, ASV, NASB). HALOT notes that some manuscripts have יוֹרֶה (yoreh) and treats it as “an alternate form of I רָוָה” (see HALOT 436 s.v. II ירה). The editors of BHS cite the Syriac evidence and suggest the line should read “the one who curses will be cursed,” taking the verbs as forms of אָרַר (ʾarar, “to curse”).
Proverbs 21:26
New English Translation
Proverbs 21:26
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:26 tn The construction uses the Hitpael perfect tense הִתְאַוָּה (hitʾavvah) followed by the cognate accusative תַאֲוָה (taʾavah). While the Piel verb means “to desire, wish for,” the reflexive meaning of the Hitpael appears to mean to encourage or build one’s desire. An English idiom might be to fan the flames of desire. It is not inherently immoral (the king will build desire for his bride in Ps 45:11) but often more often refers to a greedy craving or lust. This verse has been placed with the preceding because of the lexical connection with “desire/craving.”
- Proverbs 21:26 sn The additional clause, “and does not hold back,” emphasizes that when the righteous gives he gives freely, without fearing that his generosity will bring him to poverty. This is the contrast with the one who is self-indulgent and craves for more.
Proverbs 21:26
English Standard Version
Proverbs 21:26
English Standard Version
26 All day long he craves and craves,
but the righteous (A)gives and does not hold back.
Proverbs 22:9
New English Translation
Proverbs 22:9
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 22:9 tn Heb “good of eye.” This expression is an attributive genitive meaning “bountiful of eye” (cf. KJV, ASV “He that hath a bountiful eye”). This is the opposite of the “evil eye” which is covetous and wicked. The “eye” is a metonymy representing looking well to people’s needs. So this refers to the generous person (cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).
- Proverbs 22:9 tn The form יְבֹרָךְ (yevorakh) is a Pual imperfect (here in pause) from בָּרַךְ (barakh); the word means “blessed” in the sense of “enriched,” implying there is a practical reward for being generous to the poor.
- Proverbs 22:9 sn It is from his own food that he gives to the poor. Of the many observations that could be made, it is worth noting that in blessing this kind of person God is in fact providing for the poor, because out of his blessing he will surely continue to share more. Also, the blessing is not for those who take the resources of others and redistribute that to the poor.
Proverbs 22:9
English Standard Version
Proverbs 22:9
English Standard Version
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 22:9 Hebrew good
Proverbs 23:6
New English Translation
Proverbs 23:6
New English Translation
6 Do not eat the food of a stingy person,[a]
do not crave his delicacies;
Footnotes
- Proverbs 23:6 tn Heb “an evil eye.” This is the opposite of the “good eye” which meant the generous man. The “evil eye” refers to a person who is out to get everything for himself (cf. NASB, NCV, CEV “selfish”). He is ill-mannered and inhospitable (e.g., Prov 28:22). He is up to no good—even though he may appear to be a host.
Proverbs 23:6
English Standard Version
Proverbs 23:6
English Standard Version
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 23:6 Hebrew whose eye is evil
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 25:14
English Standard Version
Proverbs 25:14
English Standard Version
Proverbs 25:21-22
New English Translation
Proverbs 25:21-22
New English Translation
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head,[a]
and the Lord will reward you.[b]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:22 sn The imagery of the “burning coals” represents pangs of conscience, more readily effected by kindness than by violence. These coals produce the sharp pain of contrition through regret (e.g. 18:19; 20:22; 24:17; Gen 42-45; 1 Sam 24:18-20; Rom 12:20). The coals then would be an implied comparison with a searing conscience.
- Proverbs 25:22 sn The second consequence of treating enemies with kindness is that the Lord will reward the act. The fact that this is promised shows that the instruction here belongs to the religious traditions of Israel.
Proverbs 25:21-22
English Standard Version
Proverbs 25:21-22
English Standard Version
21 (A)If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22 for you will heap (B)burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.
Proverbs 28:27
New English Translation
Proverbs 28:27
New English Translation
27 The one who gives to the poor will not lack,[a]
but whoever shuts his eyes to them[b] will receive[c] many curses.[d]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 28:27 sn The generous individual will be rewarded. He will not lack nor miss what he has given away to the poor.
- Proverbs 28:27 tn Heb “hides his eyes”; “to them” is supplied in the translation to indicate the link with the poor in the preceding line. Hiding or closing the eyes is a metonymy of cause or of adjunct, indicating a decision not to look on and thereby help the poor. It could also be taken as an implied comparison, i.e., not helping the poor is like closing the eyes to them.
- Proverbs 28:27 tn The term “receives” is not in the Hebrew text but is implied, and is supplied in the translation.
- Proverbs 28:27 sn The text does not specify the nature or the source of the curses. It is natural to think that they would be given by the poor who are being mistreated and ignored. Far from being praised for their contributions to society, selfish, stingy people will be reviled for their heartless indifference.
Proverbs 28:27
English Standard Version
Proverbs 28:27
English Standard Version
New English Translation (NET)
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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.