PROV 13:9 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

13:9

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^9a The light of the righteous shines brightly,

^9bbut the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

13:9a–b

The light of the righteous…the lamp of the wicked: No contrast is intended between the words translated here as light and lamp. Both words refer figuratively to life, and both lines are implied comparisons. The life of a righteous person is like a shining light, because a shining light symbolizes prosperity and well-being. The life of a wicked person is like a light that is extinguished, because a light that stops shining symbolizes hardship, ruin, and death.

If the meaning of these metaphors are not clear in your language, some other ways to translate them are:

Change the metaphors to similes. For example:
The righteous are like a light shining brightly; the wicked are like a lamp flickering out. (GNT)
Change the metaphors to similes and make the topic explicit. For example:
The life of a righteous person is like a bright light, but the life of a wicked person is like an extinguished light.
Omit one or both of the figures of speech but use related expressions that keep the ideas of brightness and darkness. For example:
Good people can look forward to a bright future, but the future of the wicked is like a flame going out. (NCV)

13:9a

The light of the righteous shines brightly,

The life of a righteous person is like a bright light,
If a person does what is right, his life will continue to be bright.

The light of the righteous shines brightly: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as shines brightly usually means “rejoices.” Many English versions translate it that way. In this context, it contrasts with a lamp being “extinguished” in 13:9b. So it is probably a figure of speech that refers to a light that shines/burns brightly.UBS (p. 290) suggests that “rejoices” may be an example of personification, since light does not literally rejoice. It is also possible that “shines brightly” comes from a different Hebrew root with the same consonants.

13:9b

but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

but the life of a wicked person is like a lamp that is extinguished.
But if a person does what is evil, his life will end in darkness.

but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished: The phrase is extinguished means “is put out.” In English, this verb is passive. It implies that someone extinguishes the lamp, but the one who does it is not specified. In some languages, it may be more natural to translate this clause without using a passive verb. For example:

but the future of the wicked is like a flame going out (NCV)

It is better to use this kind of option than to emphasize the one who extinguishes the lamp. The main contrast in this proverb is between one light that shines brightly and another light that stops shining.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

אוֹר & וְ⁠נֵ֖ר

light & and_[the],lamp_of

The light and the lamp refer to lights and lamps in general, not one particular light and lamp. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “The lights of … but the lamps of”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אוֹר־צַדִּיקִ֥ים יִשְׂמָ֑ח

light righteous rejoices

Here Solomon refers to the lives of the righteous ones being enjoyable as if their lives were a light that could be glad. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: “The lives of the righteous ones will be enjoyable” or “The lives of the righteous ones will be enjoyable like a brightly shining light”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠נֵ֖ר רְשָׁעִ֣ים יִדְעָֽךְ

and_[the],lamp_of wicked goes_out

Here Solomon refers to the death of the wicked ones as if their lives were lamps that stop burning to produce light. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: “but the life of the wicked ones will end” or “but the life of the wicked ones is like a lamp that will be extinguished”

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.