PROV 12:10 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

12:10

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^10a A righteous man regards the life of his animal,

^10bbut the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty.

12:10a–b

A righteous man…the wicked: In Hebrew, the word translated as righteous is singular, while the word translated as wicked is plural. This variation is for the sake of style. When you translate these terms in your language, you may use singular for one term and plural for the other. You may also use singular or plural for both terms. Use whatever is more natural in your own language.

12:10a

A righteous man regards the life of his animal,

A person who obeys the law of Yahweh takes good care of even his animals,
Those who do what is right care for their horses and cattle,

regards the life of his animal: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “knows the soul of his beast.” It indicates that a righteous person is concerned about or takes care of the life, desires, or needs of his animal. He provides it with enough food, water, and rest. It is implied that a righteous person would also care for more important needs, such as the needs of his servants.This implication is mentioned by Waltke, Toy, and Garrett. Waltke says that this is probably an example of an argument from the lesser to the greater. He also says that in the law, taking care of one’s ox was a proverb for caring for one’s workers (2004, pp. 526–527). For example:

A righteous person cares even about the life of his animals (GW)

his animal: The word animal refers to any domesticated, four-footed animal. It includes sheep or goats, cattle, horses, or mules. The singular form of the word probably refers to any such animal or animals that the person owns. Many English versions, including the GW quoted above, use the plural “animals.” You may use whatever is more natural in your language.

Some languages may not have a general word for animal. In such languages, you may be able to use one or more specific terms. For example:

herd-animals and flock-animals

sheep and cattle

12:10b

but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty.

but a wicked person is cruel even if he tries to be kind.
but even when the wicked think they are showing kindness, they are actually acting cruelly.
but the most merciful thing that a wicked person does is cruel if it is compared to true mercy/kindness.

but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as tender mercies usually means “compassion.”BDB (#7356), NIDOTTE (H8171), and TWOT (#2146a) all define this plural form raḥamim as “compassion.” TWOT adds “tender mercy.” Some English versions translate this clause more literally. For example:Other English versions that translate this clause literally, without explicitly indicating sarcasm, include the ESV and NASB.

but the mercy of the wicked is cruel (NRSV)

Since it is hard to understand how “mercy” can be “cruel,” scholars have interpreted this clause in different ways:

The Hebrew word here has a sarcastic meaning. It means that even the kindest thing that a wicked person does is actually cruel or is motivated by cruelty. For example:
but even the most compassionate acts of the wicked are cruel (NET) (BSB, GW, KJV, NET, NCV, NIV, NLT96)
The Hebrew word refers here to the source of a person’s feelings, which in English is the heart. For example:
but the heart of the wicked is ruthless (NJB) (NAB, NJB, REB)
The Hebrew word refers here to the behavior of the wicked toward their animals. For example:
but wicked people are cruel to theirs (GNT) (GNT)The CEV and NLT do not explicitly limit the cruelty of the wicked to their treatment of animals, but this may be implied. For example, the NLT says, “The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel.”

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions and scholars.Fox, Hubbard, Longman, Scott, and Waltke all think that the word “mercy” or “compassion” is used in a sarcastic or ironic sense here. Cook, Delitzsch, and Toy take this word to refer to feelings or emotions, but this sense is not supported by the lexicons or by word usage. Of the 38 verses in the OT where this word is used, only Genesis 43:30 refers to strong emotion rather than the usual sense of mercy, kindness, or compassion. Longman, Toy, and Waltke reject the view that the cruelty of the wicked is limited to their treatment of animals.

In some languages, it may be difficult to express implied sarcasm. Some other ways to express this meaning are:

but the compassion of wicked people is nothing but cruelty (GW)

but even when a wicked person tries to be kind, he ends up doing what is cruel

but even the so-called kindness of the wicked is cruel in the estimation of most people

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

צַ֭דִּיק

law-abiding/just

See how you translated this phrase in [9:9](../09/09.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

יוֹדֵ֣עַ & נֶ֣פֶשׁ

has_regard & creature

Here, the phrase knows the life refers to being concerned with the wellbeing of one’s animal. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “is concerned with the wellbeing of” or “cares about the life of”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

בְּהֶמְתּ֑⁠וֹ

his_animals_of,his

Although the term his is masculine, Solomon is using the word in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that makes this clear. Alternate translation: “that person’s animal”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

וְֽ⁠רַחֲמֵ֥י רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים

and_[the],compassion(s)_of wicked

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of compassion, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “but anything compassionate that wicked people do”

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.