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Proverbs 10:19
New English Translation
Proverbs 10:19
New English Translation
19 When words abound, transgression is inevitable,[a]
but the one who restrains[b] his words[c] is wise.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:19 tn Heb “does not cease.” It is impossible to avoid sinning in an abundance of words—sooner or later one is bound to say something wrong.
- Proverbs 10:19 tn Or “holds his lips under control.” The verb חָשַׂךְ (khasakh) means “to withhold; to restrain; to hold in check” (BDB 362 s.v.). The related Arabic term is used in reference to placing a piece of wood in the mouth of a goat to prevent it from sucking (HALOT 359 s.v. חשׂךְ).
- Proverbs 10:19 tn Heb “his lips” (so KJV, NAB, NASB); NIV “his tongue.” The term “lips” is a metonymy of cause for speech.
Proverbs 10:19
American Standard Version
Proverbs 10:19
American Standard Version
19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression;
But he that refraineth his lips [a]doeth wisely.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:19 Or, is wise
Proverbs 12:23
New English Translation
Proverbs 12:23
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:23 tn Heb “a shrewd man” (so NAB); KJV, NIV “a prudent man”; NRSV “One who is clever.” sn A shrewd person knows how to use knowledge wisely, and restrains himself from revealing all he knows.
- Proverbs 12:23 sn The term כֹּסֶה (koseh, “covers; hides”) does not mean that he never shares his knowledge, but discerns when it is and is not appropriate to speak, cf. 10:14; 17:27.
- Proverbs 12:23 tn Heb “the mind of fools.” The לֵב (lev, “mind, heart”) is the place of thinking and so it is the both source of what is said and the place of discernment for what to say aloud.
- Proverbs 12:23 tn Or “speak out foolishly.” The noun may be a direct object (folly) or an adverbial accusative (foolishly).sn The noun אִוֶּלֶת (ʾivvelet, “foolishness; folly”) is the antithesis of perception and understanding. It is related to the noun אֱוִּיל (ʾevvil, “fool”), one who is morally bad because he despises wisdom and discipline, mocks at guilt, is licentious and quarrelsome, and is almost impossible to rebuke. W. McKane says that the more one speaks, the less he is able to speak effectively (Proverbs [OTL], 422). Cf. TEV “stupid people advertise their ignorance;” NLT “fools broadcast their folly.”
Proverbs 12:23
American Standard Version
Proverbs 12:23
American Standard Version
23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge;
But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
Proverbs 13:3
New English Translation
Proverbs 13:3
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:3 tn Heb “mouth” (so KJV, NAB). The term פֶּה (peh, “mouth”) functions as a metonymy of cause for speech.
- Proverbs 13:3 tn Heb “opens wide his lips.” This is an idiom meaning “to be talkative” (BDB 832 s.v. פָּשַׂק Qal). Cf. NIV “speaks rashly”; TEV “a careless talker”; CEV “talk too much.”
- Proverbs 13:3 tn Heb “ruin belongs to him.”sn Tight control over what one says prevents trouble (e.g., Prov 10:10; 17:28; Jas 3:1-12; Sir 28:25). Amenemope advises to “sleep a night before speaking” (5:15; ANET 422, n. 10). The old Arab proverb is appropriate: “Take heed that your tongue does not cut your throat” (O. Zockler, Proverbs, 134).
Proverbs 13:3
American Standard Version
Proverbs 13:3
American Standard Version
3 He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life;
But he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
Proverbs 17:28
New English Translation
Proverbs 17:28
New English Translation
28 Even a fool who remains silent is considered[a] wise,
and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.[b]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:28 tn The imperfect tense here denotes possibility: One who holds his tongue [may be considered] discerning.
- Proverbs 17:28 tn The Niphal participle is used in the declarative/estimative sense with stative verbs: “to be discerning” (Qal) becomes “to be declared discerning” (Niphal). The proverb is teaching that silence is one evidence of wisdom, and that even a fool can thereby appear wise. D. Kidner says that a fool who takes this advice is no longer a complete fool (Proverbs [TOTC], 127). He does not, of course, become wise—he just hides his folly.
Proverbs 17:28
American Standard Version
Proverbs 17:28
American Standard Version
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise;
[a]When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:28 Or, He that shutteth his lips is etc.
Proverbs 18:13
New English Translation
Proverbs 18:13
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:13 tn Heb “returns a word”; KJV “He that answereth a matter.”
- Proverbs 18:13 sn Poor listening and premature answering indicate that the person has a low regard for what the other is saying, or that he is too absorbed in his own ideas. The Mishnah lists this as the second characteristic of the uncultured person (m. Avot 5:7).
- Proverbs 18:13 tn Heb “it is folly to him and shame.” The verse uses formal parallelism, with the second colon simply completing the thought of the first.
Proverbs 18:13
American Standard Version
Proverbs 18:13
American Standard Version
13 He that giveth answer before he heareth,
It is folly and shame unto him.
Proverbs 21:23
New English Translation
Proverbs 21:23
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:23 sn “Mouth” and “tongue” are metonymies of cause, signifying what one says (cf. NCV, TEV, CEV).
- Proverbs 21:23 tn This part could also be translated “keeps himself” (so NIV), for נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) often simply means “the whole person.” The participle שֹׁמֵר (shomer) is repeated from the first line in the parallelism—to guard what is said is to guard against difficulty.
- Proverbs 21:23 sn The “troubles” (צָרוֹת, tsarot) here could refer to social and legal difficulties into which careless talk might bring someone (e.g., 13:3; 18:21). The word means “a strait, a bind, difficulty.” Careless and free talking could get the person into a tight spot.
Proverbs 21:23
American Standard Version
Proverbs 21:23
American Standard Version
23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue
Keepeth his soul from troubles.
New English Translation (NET)
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