PROV 10:7 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs. It has a very different structure from the longer poetic lectures of chapters 1–9. It consists mostly of individual couplets (two-line poems) that are each one verse in length. With the exception of the title (10:1a), paragraph breaks will not be indicated in the Notes or Display. You may of course choose to start each proverb as a separate paragraph in your translation.

In chapters 10–15, most of these one-verse couplets express a contrast between the two lines. One of the more common contrasts is between the righteous/wise and the wicked/foolish and the different consequences of their conduct.

In chapters 16:1–22:16, more topics are discussed. There is more emphasis on the role of the king and other leaders. In these chapters, there are few proverbs with contrasting lines. Some of the parallel lines are similar in meaning. More frequently, the second line adds to what the first line says or gives an example. Most of the verses have no obvious connection with the previous or following proverbs.UBS (page 214), Fox (page 509), McKane (page 413). Many scholars, including McKane, point out that there are some topical groupings as well as poetic connections. These include the repetition of certain words or sounds. This observation does not deny the individual nature of most of the proverbs in this Section.

Two of the types of proverbs in this section are not found in chapters 1–9. One type contains logical reasoning from the lesser to the greater. See 11:31 for a list of these proverbs. There are also several varieties of complex “better than” proverbs. The most common have a contrasting situation in each line (see 12:9). For other varieties, see 16:16, 19:1, and 21:9.

Many of the proverbs in this section refer to categories of people who share a common trait. For example, they refer to the righteous, the wise, the poor, and the lazy. In Hebrew, some verses use singular forms to refer to these groups of people. Other verses use plural forms. Still others use a combination of singular and plural. See the note on 10:30a–b for one example. For most of these verses, the Notes will not comment on the difference between singular and plural forms. Use a natural way in your language to refer to one or more people who are in the same category.

Many of the proverbs in this section express a general principle in abstract terms. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. For example, 10:2a–b says:

Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,

but righteousness delivers from death.

However, the author intended his readers to understand these proverbs as advice that they should follow. In some languages, authors or speakers give advice more directly, using pronouns such as you^(sing), you^(plur), we^(dual), or we^(incl). See the note on 10:2 for translation suggestions.

Some other headings for this section are:

Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

The Wise Words of Solomon (NCV)

Here are many wise things that Solomon said

10:7

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^7a The memory of the righteous is a blessing,

^7bbut the name of the wicked will rot.

10:7a

The memory of the righteous is a blessing,

We^(incl)/People are happy/blessed when we/they think of a person who was righteous,
People will remember a person who did what was right long after he has died. When they think about his life, it causes them to be happy.

The memory of the righteous is a blessing: This line refers to the memory that other people have of the righteous. It indicates that people will be blessed or benefited or made happy when they remember the life of a righteous person. The parallel with 10:7b strongly implies that people will remember a righteous person, even long after that person has died. Another way to translate this line is:

We have happy memories of the godly (NLT)

10:7b

but the name of the wicked will rot.

but the reputation/name of a wicked person will be like something that rots and disappears.
In contrast, the disgusting life of a wicked person will be forgotten, like something that decays until it ceases to exist.

but the name of the wicked will rot: In this line, the name of the wicked is a figure of speech (metonymy). It represents the reputation of the wicked. It is also part of a metaphor. The name/reputation of a wicked person is compared to something that decays/rots and disappears.

Here are some ways that they are similar:

The main similarity is that something that decays will disappear and be gone. Similarly, people will forget a wicked person after he dies.
Another similarity is that something that rots or decays is unpleasant or smelly. In the same way, the reputation of a wicked person is nasty and unpleasant.

In some languages, a literal translation of this complex figure of speech may be hard to understand. Some other ways to translate it are:

Keep the metaphor. For example:
but the reputation of the wicked will rot (NET)
Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
but the name of the wicked will be like something that rots and disappears
Change it to a simile and make explicit one or more points of similarity. For example:
but the disgusting reputation of the wicked will eventually be forgotten, like something that rots until it exists no more
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
evil people will soon be forgotten (NCV)

Two advantages of using a figure of speech are:

It may help readers to picture the meaning more vividly in their minds.
Readers will better understand the points of similarity.

However, if a figure of speech is hard to understand, the last option may express the meaning more effectively. Translate in a way that is clear and natural in your language.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

זֵ֣כֶר צַ֭דִּיק לִ⁠בְרָכָ֑ה

memory_of law-abiding/just [is]_for,a_blessing

Here Solomon is using the possessive form to describe the memory that other people have about the righteous one. If your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: “The righteous one will be remembered as a blessing”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

צַ֭דִּיק

law-abiding/just

Although righteous one here is singular, it refers to all righteous people in general. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: “any righteous person”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

לִ⁠בְרָכָ֑ה

[is]_for,a_blessing

This phrase indicates that people will be blessed when they remember the righteous one. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “will be a blessing to others” or “will bless others”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

וְ⁠שֵׁ֖ם

and=name_of

Although name here is singular, it refers to the names of all the wicked ones in general. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: “but the names of”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

וְ⁠שֵׁ֖ם

and=name_of

Here, name refers to a person’s reputation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “but the reputation of” or “but what people think of”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יִרְקָֽב

rot

Here Solomon speaks of people forgetting the name of the wicked ones as if that name is an object that rots and disappears. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: “will be forgotten” or “will be forgotten like something that rots away”

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.

OET interlinear PROV 10:7

Hebrew word order

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

10:7

10:7a

10:7b

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)