PROV 15:11 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

15:11

In this verse, 15:11b gives a conclusion based on 15:11a. Since 15:11a is true, it is even more obvious that 15:11b is true.

^11aSheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD—

^11bhow much more the hearts of men!

See 11:31 for a list of other verses in Proverbs that have this kind of reasoning.

15:11b

how much more the hearts of men!

Since he knows what happens there, he is even more able to know all the thoughts of people who are still alive.
If he is able to do that, surely it is even easier for him to know everything that we^(incl) people are thinking.

15:11a–b

Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD—how much more the hearts of men!: The implied reasoning here is as follows:

The LORD is able to do something that is very difficult. He observes everything that happens in the hidden world of the dead.
So obviously he is even more able to do something that is easier. He can look into the hearts (minds) of living people with whom he frequently communicates.

In some languages, it may be necessary to make some of the implied reasoning explicit. Some English versions make the contrast between the dead and the living explicit. For example:

^11aThe Lord knows what is happening in the world of the dead,

^11bso he surely knows the thoughts of the living. (NCV)

15:11a

Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD—

Everything in Sheol and Abaddon is visible to Yahweh.
Yahweh knows everything that happens in the unseen world/place of the dead.

Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD: The words that the BSB translates here as Sheol and Abaddon are both names in the OT for the world/place of the dead. The name Abaddon comes from a word that means “to perish.” It has the connotation “place of destruction.”

lie open before: The word that the BSB translates here as lie open before means “are in front of” or “are in full view of.” So the whole line means that the LORD observes or knows everything that happens in the place of the dead.

There are several ways to translate these names. It is suggested that you add a footnote with any of these options:

Keep the names. Use whatever spelling is appropriate for your language. For example:
Sheol and Abaddon (RSV) A suggested footnote is:
Sheol and Abaddon are two names in the OT for the world/place of the dead.
Use two terms that give the meaning of the names. Capitalize these terms if it will help your readers understand that these are places rather than abstract nouns. For example:
Death and Destruction (NLT) A suggested footnote is:
What is written in Hebrew is: “Sheol and Abaddon.” These were two names for the world/place of the dead. The meaning of Abaddon is Destruction.
Combine the two names into one general expression, since they both refer to the same place. For example:
the world of the dead (GNT) A suggested footnote is:
What is written in Hebrew is “Sheol and Abaddon.” These were two names for the world of the dead.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

שְׁא֣וֹל וַ֭⁠אֲבַדּוֹן

shəʼōl and,Abaddon

Sheol and Abaddon both refer to the place where people’s spirits go when they die. Solomon is using them together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. See how you translated Sheol in [1:12](../01/12.md). Alternate translation: “the place where the spirits of dead people dwell” or “the place of the dead”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

נֶ֣גֶד

before

Here Solomon refers to Yahweh knowing everything about Sheol and Abaddon as if they were in front of him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “are fully known by”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

לִבּ֥וֹת

hearts_of

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

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

בְּֽנֵי־אָדָֽם

sons_of humankind

See how you translated this phrase in [8:4](../08/04.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.