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Proverbs 11:12
New English Translation
Proverbs 11:12
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 11:12 tn Heb “despises” (so NASB) or “belittles” (so NRSV). The participle בָּז (baz, from בּוּז, buz) means “to despise; to show contempt for” someone. It reflects an attitude of pride and judgmentalism. In view of the parallel line, in this situation it would reflect perhaps some public denunciation of another person.sn According to Proverbs (and the Bible as a whole) how one treats a neighbor is an important part of righteousness. One was expected to be a good neighbor, and to protect and safeguard the life and reputation of a neighbor.
- Proverbs 11:12 tn Heb “lacking of mind.” The term לֵב (lev, “mind, heart”) refers by metonymy to what one does with the mind (i.e., thinking), and so refers to discernment, wisdom, good sense.
- Proverbs 11:12 tn Heb “a man of discernment.”
- Proverbs 11:12 sn The verb translated “keeps silence” (יַחֲרִישׁ, yakharish) means “holds his peace.” Rather than publicly denouncing another person’s mistake or folly, a wise person will keep quiet about it (e.g., 1 Sam 10:27). A discerning person realizes that the neighbor may become an opponent and someday retaliate.
Proverbs 11:12
Common English Bible
Proverbs 11:12
Common English Bible
12 Whoever despises their neighbor lacks sense;
a sensible person keeps quiet.
Proverbs 12:18
New English Translation
Proverbs 12:18
New English Translation
18 Speaking recklessly[a] is like the thrusts of a sword,
but the words[b] of the wise bring[c] healing.[d]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:18 tn The term בּוֹטֶה (boteh) means “to speak rashly [or, thoughtlessly]” (e.g., Lev 5:4; Num 30:7).
- Proverbs 12:18 tn Heb “the tongue” (so NAB, NIV, NRSV). The term לָשׁוֹן (lashon, “tongue”) functions as a metonymy of cause for what is said.
- Proverbs 12:18 tn Heb “[is] healing.” The term “brings” is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity and smoothness.
- Proverbs 12:18 sn Healing is a metonymy of effect. Healing words are the opposite of the cutting, irresponsible words. What the wise say is faithful and true, gentle and kind, uplifting and encouraging; so their words bring healing.
Proverbs 12:18
Common English Bible
Proverbs 12:18
Common English Bible
18 Some chatter on like a stabbing sword,
but a wise tongue heals.
Proverbs 15:4
New English Translation
Proverbs 15:4
New English Translation
4 Speech[a] that heals[b] is like[c] a life-giving tree,[d]
but a perverse speech[e] breaks the spirit.[f]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:4 tn Heb “a tongue.” The term “tongue” is a metonymy of cause for what is produced: speech.
- Proverbs 15:4 tn Heb “a tongue of healing.” A healing tongue refers to speech that is therapeutic or soothing. It is a source of vitality.
- Proverbs 15:4 tn The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied for the sake of clarity.
- Proverbs 15:4 tn Heb “tree of life.”
- Proverbs 15:4 tn Heb “perversion in it.” The referent must be the tongue, representing speech, from the first line; so this has been supplied in the translation for clarity. A tongue that is twisted, perverse, or deceitful is a way of describing deceitful speech. Such words will crush the spirit.
- Proverbs 15:4 tn Heb “is a fracture in the spirit.”
Proverbs 15:4
Common English Bible
Proverbs 15:4
Common English Bible
4 Wholesome speech is a tree of life,
but dishonest talk breaks the spirit.
Proverbs 16:27
New English Translation
Proverbs 16:27
New English Translation
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:27 tn Heb “a man of belial.” This phrase means “wicked scoundrel.” Some translate “worthless” (so ASV, NASB, CEV), but the phrase includes deep depravity and wickedness (C. H. Toy, Proverbs [ICC], 125-26).
- Proverbs 16:27 tn Heb “digs up” (so NASB). The “wicked scoundrel” finds out about evil and brings it to the surface (Prov 26:27; Jer 18:20). What he digs up he spreads by speech.
- Proverbs 16:27 tn Heb “on his lips” (so NAB) The term “lips” is a metonymy of cause. To say that “evil” is on his lips means that he talks about the evil he has dug up.
- Proverbs 16:27 sn The simile stresses the devastating way that slander hurts people. W. McKane says that this one “digs for scandal and…propagates it with words which are ablaze with misanthropy” (Proverbs [OTL], 494).
Proverbs 16:27
Common English Bible
Proverbs 16:27
Common English Bible
27 Worthless people dig up trouble;
their lips are like a scorching fire.
Proverbs 25:23
New English Translation
Proverbs 25:23
New English Translation
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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.
Proverbs 25:23
Common English Bible
Proverbs 25:23
Common English Bible
23 The north wind stirs up rain,
and a person who plots quietly provokes angry faces.
Proverbs 26:2
New English Translation
Proverbs 26:2
New English Translation
2 Like a fluttering bird or like a flying swallow,
so a curse without cause[a] does not come to rest.[b]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:2 tn Heb “causeless curse” (KJV similar) describes an undeserved curse (cf. NIV, NRSV). The Hebrew word translated “causeless” is the adverb from חָנַן (khanan); it means “without cause; gratuitous.”sn This proverb is saying that a curse that is uttered will be powerless if that curse is undeserved. It was commonly believed in the ancient world that blessings and curses had power in themselves, that once spoken they were effectual. But scripture makes it clear that the power of a blessing or a curse depends on the power of the one behind it (e.g., Num 22:38; 23:8). A curse would only take effect if the one who declared it had the authority to do so, and he would only do that if the curse was deserved.
- Proverbs 26:2 tc The MT has the negative with the verb “to enter; to come” to mean “will not come” (לֹא תָבֹא, loʾ tavoʾ). This is interpreted to mean “will not come to rest” or “will not come home.” Some commentators have taken the Qere reading of לוֹ (lo) instead, and read it as “will come home to him.” This is also a little difficult, but it gives the idea that an undeserved curse will come [back] to him [who gave it]. Just as a bird will fly around and eventually come home, so will the undeserved curse return on the one who gave it. This is plausible, but there is no referent for the suffix, making it syntactically difficult.
Proverbs 26:2
Common English Bible
Proverbs 26:2
Common English Bible
2 Like a darting sparrow, like a flying swallow,
so an undeserved curse never arrives.
New English Translation (NET)
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