PROV 12:25 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

12:25

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^25a Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man,

^25bbut a good word cheers it up.

12:25a

Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man,

Worry/anxiety is like a heavy load/weight on a person’s back,
A person who is overcome by worry and fear will become depressed,

Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man: The phrase the heart of a man refers to a person’s emotions or inner being. A person who is anxious is both worried and fearful about the future. This clause is a metaphor in which anxiety is compared to a heavy burden that makes a person’s heart bow down under its weight. It is also a personification that speaks of the heart as if it were a person who could bow down. To be emotionally weighed down means to be depressed. Some ways to translate this metaphor are:

Make the image of the metaphor explicit. For example:
Worry is a heavy load (NCV)
Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
Worry is like a heavy weight on a person’s heart/back.
Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:
An anxious heart is dispiriting (REB)

12:25b

but a good word cheers it up.

but if someone speaks kind/encouraging words to him, the load is lifted, and he becomes glad.
but good/helpful words will cause him to be happy again.

but a good word cheers it up: The phrase that the BSB translates as a good word refers to anything encouraging, reassuring, kind or helpful that a person says in order to make another person feel glad or happy again. This verse part continues the personification of the “heart” by speaking of it as if it were a person whom a helpful saying cheers…up. A way to translate this without the personification is:

an encouraging word cheers a person up (NLT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

דְּאָגָ֣ה

anxiety

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of Concern, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “That which is concerning”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

בְ⁠לֶב

in_[the],heart_of

See how you translated the same use of heart in [2:2](../02/02.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

אִ֣ישׁ

(a)_man

Although man is masculine, here it refers to any person in general. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “a person”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יַשְׁחֶ֑⁠נָּה

it,bows_it_down

Here Solomon refers to Concern making a person depressed as if it were something that weighs down a person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “causes the heart of a man to become sad”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

וְ⁠דָבָ֖ר ט֣וֹב

and,a_word good

Here Solomon uses the phrase good word to describe something kind that someone says by using words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “but a kind message that someone speaks”

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 12:25

Hebrew word order

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

12:25

12:25a

12:25b

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