PROV 11:26 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

11:26

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^26a People will curse the hoarder of grain,

^26bbut blessing will crown the one who sells it.

11:26b

but blessing will crown the one who sells it.

But they say good things about a person who sells it for its fair value.
but if he is willing to sell it for a fair price, people will praise him.

11:26a–b

The people will curse…but blessing will crown: The word that the BSB and other versions translate as curse normally means to invoke a bad result on someone. The parallel expression, blessing will crown, is literally “a blessing for the head of.” In this phrase, “head” refers figuratively to the whole person.

In this context, it is probable that curse and blessing do not refer to ritual or formal pronouncements of cursing or blessing. Instead, they probably mean that people say bad things about the person who hoards his grain. They praise or say good things about the person who is willing to sell it.This interpretation is recommended by UBS and NET. Few scholars comment specifically on the meaning of “curse.” Waltke says that people look to God for “fulfillment of their curse proclamation” (2004, p. 508), but Whybray says only that a curse is an “expression of hostility” (p. 187). The lexicons BDB, TWOT, and NIDOTTE say nothing specifically about this verse, but the latter two speak of uttering a formula. It seems likely in this context that most people would express angry feelings or praise for the one who hoards or sells, respectively, rather than formally invoking God’s curse or blessing upon the individuals concerned.

the hoarder of grain…the one who sells it: This proverb assumes that there is a shortage of grain. In such a situation, the phrase hoarder of grain indicates someone who refuses to sell his grain at the normal price when people want to buy it. Instead, he stores it so that he can sell it later at a much higher price. The parallel phrase the one who sells it refers to a person who is willing to sell his grain at a reasonable price. He does not store it in order to get a higher price later on.

Some versions make explicit the implied purpose for hoarding grain. It also makes explicit the implied situation or period of time for selling grain. For example:

People curse those who hold their grain for higher prices, but they bless the one who sells to them in their time of need. (NLT96)

You may need to make some of this information explicit in your language to help your readers understand the context of hoarding and selling.

11:26a

The people will curse the hoarder of grain,

People curse a person who delays in selling his stored grain/rice so that he can sell it later at a higher price.
If a person hoards/stores grain/crops in order to sell it later for a higher price, other people will say bad things about him,

grain: The word grain refers specifically to threshed grain, probably wheat. It may also refer more broadly to any kind of grain, vegetable, or fruit crop. In languages that do not have a word for wheat, some other ways to translate this word are:

Use the word for another grain crop, such as rice.
Use a more general term, such as “crop” or “what is harvested.”

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

מֹ֣נֵֽעַ & יִקְּבֻ֣⁠הוּ & מַשְׁבִּֽיר

hoards & they,curse_him & sells

In this verse, One, him, and the seller refer to types of people in general. They do not refer to specific people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “Any person who withholds … will curse that person … any seller”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

מֹ֣נֵֽעַ בָּ֭ר

hoards grain

Here Solomon implies that this person is selfishly withholding grain in order to sell it later for a greater profit. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “One who is withholding grain in order to sell it later for a higher price”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

וּ֝⁠בְרָכָ֗ה לְ⁠רֹ֣אשׁ

and,a_blessing [belongs]_to_[the],head_of

See how you translated the similar expression in [10:6](../10/06.md).

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

מַשְׁבִּֽיר

sells

Here Solomon implies that the seller sells grain. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “the one who sells his grain”

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.