PROV 15:15 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

15:15

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^15a All the days of the oppressed are bad,

^15bbut a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Within these contrasting parts is a pair with similar meanings—“all the days” and “continual.”

15:15a–b

the oppressed…a cheerful heart: There are two ways to interpret this proverb. The contrasting phrases the oppressed and a cheerful heart may refer to the same person or to different people:

They refer to the same person. A cheerful heart can enable an oppressed person to find enjoyment in life, even though his outward circumstances are difficult.
They refer to different people. Oppressed people have a difficult/miserable life, but happy people enjoy life, whether or not they are oppressed.

Both interpretations fit the context. Most scholars prefer interpretation (1). The English versions used in these Notes allow either meaning to be understood. It is recommended that you also translate in a way that allows either meaning.

15:15a

All the days of the oppressed are bad,

Every day of his life a poor person experiences extreme hardship,
For people who suffer oppression/distress, there is difficulty/trouble every day,

All the days of the oppressed are bad: The phrase All the days refers to the daily experiences throughout the life of a person who is oppressed. Every day, such a person’s life is bad. Here the word means “harsh,” “severe,” “extremely difficult.” (The BSB translated the same Hebrew word as “harsh” in 15:10a. See the note there.)

the oppressed: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates here as the oppressed is often used as a parallel pair with similar words that mean “poor” and “needy.” But in this context, the word may specifically imply someone who is suffering some kind of distress.The Hebrew word that occurs here is ʿani. See TWOT (#1652d), Cook (p. 46), and Ross (p. 996). This distress may be either physical or mental/emotional. If possible, use a term in your translation that can refer to either one.

Some English versions translate this word as “poor.” Such a translation may be adequate if the rest of the line clearly refers to extreme difficulty or suffering. Some ways to express this meaning are:

The life of the poor is a constant struggle (GNT)

Every day is hard for those who suffer (NCV)

To the downtrodden every day is wretched (REB)

For more information on the Hebrew word that is used here, see the note in 14:21b.

15:15b

but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

but a happy person enjoys his life like someone who feasts every day.
but people with a cheerful attitude always enjoy life.

but a cheerful heart has a continual feast: The phrase that the BSB translates as cheerful heart has the same meaning as “joyful heart” in 15:13a. The situation of a person with inner happiness is compared here to a continual feast. A person at a feast or banquet is able to enjoy the finest food and drink. Similarly, a person with a cheerful/happy attitude is always able to find enjoyment and satisfaction in his life.

In some languages, a literal translation of this metaphor may wrongly imply that a cheerful person frequently attends feasts. Some other ways to translate this metaphor are:

Change the metaphor to a simile. Make the similarity explicit if necessary. For example:
but a happy person always enjoys life like someone at a feast that never ends
State the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
but happy people always enjoy life (GNT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

כָּל־יְמֵ֣י עָנִ֣י

all/each/any/every days_of poor

All the days here refers to what happens during the days that the afflicted one is alive. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “What happens during all the days that the afflicted one is alive”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

עָנִ֣י & וְ⁠טֽוֹב־לֵ֝֗ב

poor & and=good heart

Here, the afflicted one and the good of heart represent types of people, not specific people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “any afflicted one … but any person who is good of heart”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

רָעִ֑ים

hard

Here, evil refers to what is miserable or troublesome. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “are troublesome ones” or “are troublesome”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠טֽוֹב־לֵ֝֗ב

and=good heart

Here, the good of heart refers to a person who feels cheerful. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “but the one who feels cheerful”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

מִשְׁתֶּ֥ה תָמִֽיד

feast continual

Here Solomon refers to a person enjoying life as if that person is always eating at a feast. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a simile or express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “lives as if he is continually feasting” or “is always enjoying life”

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.