PROV 12:6 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

12:6

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^6a The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,

^6bbut the speech of the upright rescues them.

12:6a

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,

The words of wicked people are like someone who lies in ambush in order to kill another person.
When wicked people say things, they are hiding their true thoughts. What they really want to do is to cause someone else to die.

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood: This line means that wicked people say things with the hidden intention of causing the death of another person. This may refer to telling lies in court or to plotting someone’s murder. The verse itself does not specify how wicked people kill others with their words. This line has three figures of speech: personification, metaphor, and metonymy.

The words of the wicked lie in wait for: In this clause, The words of the wicked are personified. They are described as if they were people waiting in ambush. This clause also functions as a metaphor. It compares the words that wicked people speak to a person who waits in order to ambush someone.

blood: In this context, the word blood is a figure of speech (metonymy). It represents killing someone.

In some languages, a literal translation of these figures of speech may be difficult to understand. Some other ways to translate these figures of speech are:

Change the metaphor to a simile. Translate the meaning of blood without using a figure of speech. For example:
The words of wicked people are like someone who lies in ambush in order to kill another person.
Express the meaning of all three figures of speech directly. Do not use figurative language. For example:
Wicked people say things with the hidden intention of causing someone else to die.

12:6b

but the speech of the upright rescues them.

But a person whose character is just/straightforward says things that will save other people’s lives.
But the words of a righteous person deliver/protect those who are in danger of death.

but the speech of the upright rescues them: This clause means that upright people say things that are needed to rescue or deliver others from death. In this clause, the speech of the upright is personified. Their speech is described as if it were a person who rescues others. It is parallel to “the words of the wicked” in 12:6a.

the upright: In Hebrew, this word refers to people whose conduct is fair and straightforward. See the note on upright in 11:3a.

them: The word them should not refer back to the wicked. It may refer to people who are about to be ambushed. For example:

but the words of the righteous rescue those who are threatened (GNT)

It may also refer to people in general. For example:

but the words of the godly save lives (NLT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

דִּבְרֵ֣י & וּ⁠פִ֥י

words_of & and_[the],mouth_of

See how you translated the same use of words in [1:23](../01/23.md) and mouth in [10:11](../10/11.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

אֱרָב־דָּ֑ם

ambush blood

Here Solomon refers to the wicked ones saying things that will cause other people to die as if what they say is a person who waits to ambush someone on the road. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. See how you translated this phrase in [1:11](../01/11.md). Alternate translation: “result in people dying” or “are like someone who lies in wait to murder someone”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

יַצִּילֵֽ⁠ם

it,delivers_them

Here Solomon refers to the upright rescuing themselves from trouble through what they say as if what they say were a person who could deliver them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “will allow them to deliver themselves”

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 12:6

Hebrew word order

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

12:6

12:6a

12:6b

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