PROV 14:22 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

14:22

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^22aDo not those who contrive evil go astray?

^22bBut those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness.

14:22a–b

those who contrive evil…those who plan goodness: These two phrases both refer to making plans that affect others. Some people plan to harm others. Other people plan to benefit them.

14:22a

Do not those who contrive evil go astray?

Do those who plan to do evil against others wander away from the right path? Of course!
If you^(sing)/we^(incl) plan to do what will harm others, then you/we are definitely following a course of wrong behavior.

Do not those who contrive evil go astray?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that those who make evil plans certainly go astray. There are two ways to translate this emphasis:

Use a rhetorical question that implies a definite “yes” answer. In some languages, it may be more natural to use a positive question and to supply the answer. For example:
Do people who make evil plans go astray? Yes, indeed!
Use a statement. For example:
People who plot evil definitely go astray.

contrive evil: This phrase means to devise a plan to do wrong or to harm someone else. The same phrase occurs in Hebrew in 3:29a, where the BSB translates it as “devise evil.” See the note on 3:29a–b.

go astray: The verb go astray can refer to someone who strays off the right path. It can also refer to someone who gets lost and wanders aimlessly on the wrong path. Here it refers to someone who goes astray morally and follows wrong behavior.

14:22b

But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness.

But people who plan to do good to others will find that others will love and trust them.
But if you^(sing)/we^(incl) plan to do what will benefit other people, you/we will have loyal and loving friends.

find loving devotion and faithfulness: The verb find is supplied by the BSB. There is no verb in the Hebrew. Some scholars think that loving devotion and faithfulness are qualities that are shown in the lives of people who plan what is good. However, it is more likely that both lines of this verse refer to the contrasting consequences of planning evil and planning good. The person who plans to do good to others will receive love and faithfulness from others.

The ones who show loving devotion and faithfulness could include both people and God, but the main reference here is probably to people.

loving devotion and faithfulness: The word that the BSB translates here as loving devotion has three aspects of meaning: steadfastness/loyalty, love, and kindness. The word that the BSB translates here as faithfulness describes a person who is loyal or reliable. For more information on the phrase loving devotion and faithfulness, see the note on 3:3a.

Some scholars think that these two qualities function together (as a hendiadys) to mean “loyal/reliable love.”Murphy (p. 106) and footnote (c) in the NET. But most versions give two qualities separated by “and.” For example:

but those who plan to do good will be loved and trusted (NCV)

It is recommended that you treat these two terms as separate qualities, since they occur both individually and in the opposite order in other verses.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

הֲֽ⁠לוֹא־יִ֭תְעוּ חֹ֣רְשֵׁי רָ֑ע

am=not go_astray plan_of evil

Solomon is using the question form to emphasize what he is saying. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “Devisers of evil certainly go astray!”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

רָ֑ע וְ⁠חֶ֥סֶד וֶ֝⁠אֱמֶ֗ת & טֽוֹב

evil and,loyalty and,faithfulness & good

See how you translated the abstract nouns evil in [1:16](../01/16.md), covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness in [3:3](../03/03.md), and good in [11:27](../11/27.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וְ⁠חֶ֥סֶד וֶ֝⁠אֱמֶ֗ת חֹ֣רְשֵׁי טֽוֹב

and,loyalty and,faithfulness plan_of good

The relationship between covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness and devisers of good is unspecified. This line could mean: (1) covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness are characteristics of the devisers of good. Alternate translation: “But devisers of good show covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness” or (2) covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness are benefits that devisers of good will receive from others. Alternate translation: “Alternate translation: “But covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness will benefit devisers of good”

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.