PROV 14:34 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

14:34

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^34a Righteousness exalts a nation,

^34bbut sin is a disgrace to any people.

14:34a

Righteousness exalts a nation,

When people live righteous lives, their nation/country is made great,
The status/reputation of a country goes up when its citizens do what is right,

14:34b

but sin is a disgrace to any people.

but when they live sinful lives, their country is shamed/dishonored.
but its status/reputation goes far down when their lives are full of sin.

14:34a–b

Righteousness exalts…but sin is a disgrace: In 14:34a, Righteousness is personified. It is described as if it were a person who brings honor to a nation. Because of the contrasting parallel between Righteousness and sin in this verse, some versions also personify sin. For example:

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people. (NIV11)

Righteousness and sin both refer here to a way of life, not to an occasional good deed or an occasional sin. When the people of a country live upright, righteous lives, their country becomes great as a result. When they live sinful lives, they bring disgrace or shame to the country.

If your language does not use personification the way this verse does, you may need to express the meaning differently. For example:

A nation’s reputation is improved by the righteous/upright lives of its people. Its reputation is ruined when its people live sinful lives.

a nation…any people: No distinction is intended between the terms nation and people. Both refer to a country or nation or to the collective group of people who live there.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

צְדָקָ֥ה & וְ⁠חֶ֖סֶד & חַטָּֽאת

righteousness & and_[is],a_shame_of & sin

See how you translated the abstract nouns Righteousness in [1:3](../01/03.md), sin in [5:22](../05/22.md), and shame in [6:33](../06/33.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

תְרֽוֹמֵֽם־גּ֑וֹי

exalts nation

Here Solomon refers to a nation becoming great as if it were an object that Righteousness raises up. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. See how you translated the similar use of “raised up” in [11:11](../11/11.md). Alternate translation: “makes a nation great”

Note 3 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

לְאֻמִּ֣ים

people

The plural use of peoples here refers to several groups of people that could also be called “nations” or “countries.” See how you translated “people” in [11:14](../11/14.md).

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.