Proverbs 3:1-2
New English Translation
Exhortations to Seek Wisdom and Walk with the Lord[a]
3 My child,[b] do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep[c] my commandments,
2 for they will provide[d] a long and full life,[e]
and well-being[f] for you.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 3:1 sn The chapter begins with an introductory exhortation (1-4), followed by an admonition to be faithful to the Lord (5-12). Wisdom is commended as the most valuable possession (13-18), essential to creation (19-20), and the way to a long and safe life (21-26). There then follows a warning to avoid unneighborliness (27-30) and emulating the wicked (31-35).
- Proverbs 3:1 tn Heb “my son” (likewise in vv. 11, 21).
- Proverbs 3:1 tn The verb יִצֹּר (yitsor) is a Qal jussive and the noun לִבֶּךָ (libbekha, “your heart”) functions as the subject: “let your heart keep my commandments.”
- Proverbs 3:2 tn Heb “They will add to you.” The verb appears in the second half of the Hebrew line but has been moved to the beginning in the translation for the sake of smoothness.
- Proverbs 3:2 tn Heb “length of days and years of life” (so NASB, NRSV). The idiom “length of days” refers to a prolonged life and “years of life” signifies a long time full of life, a life worth living (T. T. Perowne, Proverbs, 51). The term “life” refers to “earthly felicity combined with spiritual blessedness” (BDB 313 s.v. חַיִּים).
- Proverbs 3:2 tn The noun שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “peace”) here means “welfare, health, prosperity” (BDB 1022 s.v. 3). It can be used of physical health and personal well-being. It is the experience of positive blessing and freedom from negative harm and catastrophe.
Proverbs 3:1-2
Expanded Bible
Advice to Children
3 My ·child [L son], do not forget my ·teaching [instruction; law],
but ·keep my commands in mind [L let your heart/mind protect my commands].
2 Then ·you will live a long time,
and your life will be successful [L length of days and years of life and peace will be added to you].
Proverbs 9:7-9
New English Translation
7 Whoever corrects[a] a mocker is asking for[b] insult;[c]
whoever reproves a wicked person receives[d] abuse.
8 Do not reprove[e] a mocker or[f] he will hate you;
reprove a wise person and he will love you.
9 Give instruction[g] to a wise person,[h] and he will become wiser still;
teach[i] a righteous person and he will add to his[j] learning.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 9:7 tn The active participle יֹסֵר (yoser) describes one who tries to correct by means of instruction and discipline; it is paralleled by the Hiphil participle which refers to someone who rebukes or reproves another. Anyone trying this on these types of people would be inviting trouble.
- Proverbs 9:7 tn Heb “receives for himself.”
- Proverbs 9:7 tn The word means “dishonor” or “disgrace.” It is paralleled with מוּמוֹ (mumo), translated “abuse.” The latter term means “blemish,” although some would emend the text to read “reproach.” The MT is figurative but not impossible to interpret: Whoever tries to rebuke a wicked person will receive only insults and perhaps physical attack.
- Proverbs 9:7 tn The verb “receives” is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity and smoothness.
- Proverbs 9:8 tn In view of the expected response for reproof, the text now uses a negated jussive to advise against the attempt. This is paralleled antithetically by the imperative in the second colon. This imperative is in an understood conditional clause: “if you reprove a wise person.”
- Proverbs 9:8 tn Heb “lest he hate you.” The particle פֶּן (pen, “lest”) expresses fear or precaution (R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 79, §476). The antonyms “love” and “hate” suggest that the latter means “reject” and the former means “choosing and embracing.”
- Proverbs 9:9 tn Heb “Give to the wise.” The object, “instruction” (or possibly rebuke), is implied. Most translations either supply the object (NIV, NLT, Holman) or change the verb to “instruct” (NASB, ESV, NKJV, NRSV).
- Proverbs 9:9 sn The parallelism shows what Proverbs will repeatedly stress, that the wise person is the righteous person.
- Proverbs 9:9 tn The Hiphil verb normally means “to cause to know, make known,” but here the context suggests “to teach” (so many English versions).
- Proverbs 9:9 tn The term “his” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied for the sake of smoothness and clarity.
Proverbs 9:7-9
Expanded Bible
7 “If you ·correct [instruct; discipline] ·someone who makes fun of wisdom [a mocker], you will be insulted.
If you correct an evil person, you will ·get hurt [L be blemished].
8 Do not correct ·those who make fun of wisdom [mockers], or they will hate you.
But correct the wise, and they will love you.
9 ·Teach [L Give to] the wise, and they will become even wiser;
·teach [inform] ·good people [the righteous], and they will ·learn even more [L add to their learning].
Proverbs 10:8
New English Translation
8 The wise person[a] accepts instructions,[b]
but the one who speaks foolishness[c] will come to ruin.[d]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 10:8 tn Heb “the wise of mind.” The noun לֵב (lev, “mind, heart”) functions as a genitive of specification: “wise in the mind” or “wise-minded.” Cf. “wise hearted” NASB, ESV, NRSV; “wise in heart” KJV, NIV. The term לֵב (lev) represents the person in this case (a synecdoche of part for the whole) because it is the seat of thinking and wisdom.
- Proverbs 10:8 tn Heb “commandments.”
- Proverbs 10:8 tn Heb “fool of lips.” The phrase is a genitive of specification: “a fool in respect to lips.” The term “lips” is a metonymy of cause (= lips) for effect (= speech). This person talks foolishness; he is too busy talking to pay attention to instruction.
- Proverbs 10:8 tn The Niphal verb לָבַט (lavat) means “to be thrust down [or, away]”; that is, “to be ruined; to fall” or “to stumble” (e.g., Hos 4:14). The fool who refuses to listen to advice—but abides by his own standards which he freely expresses—will suffer the predicaments that he creates.
Proverbs 10:8
Expanded Bible
8 The wise of heart ·do what they are told [L grasps commands],
but ·a talkative fool [L the lips of a fool] will be ruined.
Proverbs 12:15
New English Translation
15 The way of a fool[a] is right[b] in his own opinion,[c]
but the one who listens to advice is wise.[d]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 12:15 sn The way of a fool describes a headlong course of actions (“way” is an idiom for conduct) that is not abandoned even when wise advice is offered.
- Proverbs 12:15 sn The fool believes that his own plans and ideas are perfect or “right” (יָשָׁר, yashar); he is satisfied with his own opinion.
- Proverbs 12:15 tn Heb “in his own eyes.”
- Proverbs 12:15 tn Or “a wise person listens to advice” (cf. NIV, NRSV, TEV, CEV, NLT).
Proverbs 12:15
Expanded Bible
15 ·Fools think they are doing right [L The path of fools is virtuous/right in their own eyes],
but the wise listen to advice.
Proverbs 13:1
New English Translation
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:1 tc The MT reads “a wise son, discipline of a father.” Instead of מוּסָר (musar, “discipline”), G. R. Driver suggested reading this word as מְיֻסַּר (meyussar, “allows himself to be disciplined”); see his “Hebrew Notes on Prophets and Proverbs,” JTS 41 (1940): 174. A few Medieval Hebrew manuscripts, the LXX, and the Syriac read יִשְׁמַע (yishmaʿ) “a wise son listens to/obeys his father.” The translation, “accepts…discipline,” reflects the notion intended by either.
- Proverbs 13:1 sn The “scoffer” is the worst kind of fool. He has no respect for authority, reviles worship of God, and is unteachable because he thinks he knows it all. The change to a stronger word in the second colon—“rebuke” (גָּעַר, gaʿar)—shows that he does not respond to instruction on any level. Cf. NLT “a young mocker,” taking this to refer to the opposite of the “wise son” in the first colon.
- Proverbs 13:1 tn Heb “has not listened.” The perfect verb has been chosen to emphasize the past pattern of the scoffer.
Proverbs 13:1
Expanded Bible
13 Wise ·children take their parents’ advice [L sons listen to their father’s discipline/instruction],
but ·whoever makes fun of wisdom [mockers] won’t listen to ·correction [a rebuke].
Proverbs 13:13
New English Translation
13 The one who despises instruction[a] will pay the penalty,[b]
but whoever esteems direction[c] will[d] be rewarded.[e]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 13:13 tn Heb “the word.” Both the term “word” (דָּבָר, davar) and its parallel “command” (מִצְוָה, mitzvah) are used at times for scripture, but probably here for the sage’s teaching. Here the second term gives more specificity to the first.
- Proverbs 13:13 tc The MT reads יֵחָבֶל (yekhavel) the Niphal imperfect of חָבַל (khaval). This root may be one of two homonyms, meaning either “a pledge will be seized from him” or “he will fare badly” (see HALOT 285 s.v. II חבל and III חבל). But the BHS editors suggest revocalizing the text to יְחֻבָּל (yekhubbal, “he will be broken [for it]”; cf. NRSV “bring destruction on themselves”).
- Proverbs 13:13 tn Heb “fears a commandment”; NIV “respects a command.”
- Proverbs 13:13 tn Heb “he” or “that one” [will be rewarded].
- Proverbs 13:13 tc The MT reads יְשֻׁלָּם (yeshullam, “will be rewarded”); the LXX implies a different vocalization יִשְׁלָם (yishlam, “will stay well/healthy”). Also the LXX then adds: “A crafty son will have no good thing, but the affairs of a wise servant will be prosperous; and his path will be directed rightly.”
Proverbs 13:13
Expanded Bible
13 Those who ·reject what they are taught [despise a word] will pay for it,
but those who ·obey what they are told [respect/fear the commandment] will be rewarded.
Proverbs 15:31
New English Translation
Footnotes
- Proverbs 15:31 tn Heb “ear” (so KJV, NRSV). The term “ear” is a synecdoche of part (= ear) for the whole (= person).
- Proverbs 15:31 tn “Life” is an objective genitive: Reproof brings or preserves life. Cf. NIV “life-giving rebuke”; NLT “constructive criticism.”
- Proverbs 15:31 tn Heb “lodges.” This means to live with, to be at home with.
- Proverbs 15:31 sn The proverb is one full sentence; it affirms that a teachable person is among the wise.
Proverbs 15:31
Expanded Bible
31 ·If you listen to correction to improve your life,
you [L The ear that listens to correction] will ·live [lodge] among the wise.
Proverbs 17:10
New English Translation
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:10 tn Heb “goes in deeper” (cf. NASB, NRSV). The verb נָחֵת (nakhet) “to go down; to descend” with the preposition ב (bet) means “to descend into; to make an impression on” someone.
- Proverbs 17:10 tn The form is the Hiphil infinitive of נָכָה (nakhah) with the comparative מִן, min. The word “fool” then would be an objective genitive—more than blows to/on a fool.
Proverbs 17:10
Expanded Bible
10 A wise person will learn more from a ·warning [rebuke]
than a fool will learn from a hundred lashings.
Proverbs 19:16
New English Translation
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:16 tn The verb שָׁמַר (shamar) is repeated twice in this line but with two different senses, creating a polysemantic wordplay: “he who obeys/keeps (ֹֹשֹמֵר, shomer) the commandment safeguards/keeps (שֹׁמֵר, shomer) his life.”
- Proverbs 19:16 sn The expression his ways could refer either (1) to the conduct of the individual himself, or (2) to the commandments as the Lord’s ways. If the latter is the case, then the punishment is more certain.
- Proverbs 19:16 tc The Kethib is יוּמָת (yumat), “will be put to death,” while the Qere reads יָמוּת (yamut, “will die”). The Qere is the preferred reading and is followed by most English versions.
Proverbs 19:16
Expanded Bible
16 Those who ·obey [guard] the commands ·protect [guard] themselves,
but those who ·are careless [L despise their way] will die.
Proverbs 19:20
New English Translation
20 Listen to advice[a] and receive discipline,
that[b] you may become wise[c] by the end of your life.[d]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:20 sn The advice refers in all probability to the teachings of the sages that will make one wise.
- Proverbs 19:20 tn The proverb is one continuous thought, but the second half of the verse provides the purpose for the imperatives of the first half.
- Proverbs 19:20 tn The imperfect tense has the nuance of a final imperfect in a purpose clause, and so is translated “that you may become wise” (cf. NAB, NRSV).
- Proverbs 19:20 tn Heb “become wise in your latter end” (cf. KJV, ASV) which could obviously be misunderstood.
Proverbs 19:20
Expanded Bible
20 Listen to advice and accept correction,
and in the ·end [future] you will be wise.
Proverbs 19:25
New English Translation
25 Flog[a] a scorner, and as a result the simpleton[b] will learn prudence;[c]
correct a discerning person, and as a result he will understand knowledge.[d]
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:25 tn The Hiphil imperfect תַּכֶּה (takkeh) is followed by another imperfect. It could be rendered: “strike a scorner [imperfect of instruction] and a simpleton will become prudent.” But the first of the parallel verbs can also be subordinated to the second as a temporal or conditional clause. Some English versions translate “beat” (NAB “if you beat an arrogant man”), but this could be understood to refer to competition rather than physical punishment. Therefore “flog” has been used in the translation, since it is normally associated with punishment or discipline.
- Proverbs 19:25 sn Different people learn differently. There are three types of people in this proverb: the scorner with a closed mind, the simpleton with an empty mind, and the discerning person with an open mind (D. Kidner, Proverbs [TOTC], 135). The simpleton learns by observing a scoffer being punished, even though the punishment will have no effect on the scoffer.
- Proverbs 19:25 sn The word is related to “shrewdness” (cf. 1:4). The simpleton will learn at least where the traps are and how to avoid them.
- Proverbs 19:25 tn The second half begins with הוֹכִיחַ (hokhiakh), the Hiphil infinitive construct. This parallels the imperfect tense beginning the first half; it forms a temporal or conditional clause as well, so that the main verb is “he will understand.”sn The discerning person will learn from verbal rebukes. The contrast is caught in a wordplay in the Midrash: “For the wise a hint [rʾmizo], for the fool a fist [kurmezo]” (Mishle 22:6).
Proverbs 19:25
Expanded Bible
25 ·Whip those who make fun of wisdom [L Hit/Strike a mocker], and perhaps ·foolish [naive; immature; simpleminded] people will gain some ·wisdom [prudence].
Correct those with understanding, and they will gain knowledge.
Proverbs 19:27
New English Translation
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:27 tn Heb “Stop listening…!” The infinitive construct לִשְׁמֹעַ (lishmoaʿ) functions as the direct object of the imperative: “stop heeding [or, listening to].” Of course in this proverb which shows the consequences of doing so, this is irony. The sage is instructing not to stop. The conditional protasis construction does not appear in the Hebrew but is supplied in the translation.
- Proverbs 19:27 tn The second line has an infinitive construct לִשְׁגוֹת (lishgot), meaning “to stray; to go astray; to err.” It indicates the result of the instruction—stop listening, and as a result you will go astray. The LXX took it differently: “A son who ceases to attend to discipline is likely to stray from words of knowledge.” RSV sees the final clause as the purpose of the instructions to be avoided: “do not listen to instructions to err.”
Proverbs 19:27
Expanded Bible
27 Don’t stop listening to correction, my child,
or you will ·forget what you have already learned [L wander from knowledgeable speeches/words].
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.