PROV 16:10 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

16:10–15

These verses all deal with the topic of kings, except for 16:11. They describe an ideal king, who rules as the representative of the LORD. If the title of “king” is not known in your language, some other ways to translate this word are:

Use a title for a leader of similar status. For example:
chief
Use a descriptive phrase. For example:
highest leader/ruler

16:10

Both lines of this proverb are about a king’s words. The second line gives the implied result of the first line.

^10aA divine verdict is on the lips of a king;

^10b his mouth must not betray justice.

16:10a

A divine verdict is on the lips of a king;

When a king speaks, it is as if Yahweh has given him the words to say.
Kings speak with authority from Yahweh,

A divine verdict is on the lips of a king: The word that the BSB translates as divine verdict usually refers to divination, the false practice of obtaining information from the gods. Here it is used in a good sense. It indicates that the king speaks as the LORD’s representative. It means that when he makes official statements as king, he speaks with authority from the LORD. Some other ways to translate the meaning of this line are:

A king’s words are like a message from the LORD

The king speaks with divine authority (GNT)

16:10b

his mouth must not betray justice.

Therefore the verdict/sentence that he gives when he judges a case is always right/just.
so their decisions/verdicts are always fair/right.

his mouth must not betray justice: In Hebrew, this line is literally “his mouth does not act unfaithfully in judgment/justice.” This seems to contradict the behavior of actual kings, so some versions have translated this line as a statement of obligation. Here are the two interpretations:

This line describes how an ideal king behaves: He does not act unfairly when he gives an official verdict. For example:
he does not err when he passes sentence (REB)
his decisions are always right (GNT) (CEV, ESV, GW, KJV, NAB, NJB, NJPS, NRSV, REB, GNT)
This line describes how a king ought to behave: He should not act unfairly when he gives an official verdict. For example:
he must never judge unfairly (NLT) (BSB, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NLT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions.The first interpretation is supported by Whybray, Waltke, Garrett, UBS, McKane, and Longman. The second interpretation is supported by Ross, Delitzsch, Longman, Hubbard, and the NET footnotes. The NET footnote says that a modal nuance is required to express obligation and that the verb could be understood as a jussive (“Let the king…”). The other verses in this section are worded as a description of an ideal king. They are not worded as advice to a king. If this is not clear to your readers, you may want to add a footnote. For example:

^16:10–15These verses describe an ideal/perfect king (cf. John 5:27–30). They do not mean that actual human kings cannot make mistakes.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

קֶ֤סֶם ׀ עַֽל־שִׂפְתֵי־מֶ֑לֶךְ

oracle on/upon lips_of king

Divination usually refers to the practice of trying to get information from spirits, which is a practice that Yahweh prohibited. However, Solomon uses the word here to refer to a king correctly communicating God’s decisions as God’s representative. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “Divinely inspired decisions are on the lips of a king”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

קֶ֤סֶם & בְּ֝⁠מִשְׁפָּ֗ט

oracle & in,judgment

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of Divination and judgment, you could express the same ideas in other ways. Alternate translation: “What someone discerns from God … when he judges”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

שִׂפְתֵי

lips_of

See how you translated the same use of lips in [10:21](../10/21.md).

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

מֶ֑לֶךְ

king

This verse describes the traits of an ideal, righteous king, not any king in general. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “an ideal king”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

מֶ֑לֶךְ & פִּֽי⁠ו

king & mouth_of,his

Here, the words king and his represent righteous kings, not one particular king. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “any good king … that king’s mouth”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

פִּֽי⁠ו

mouth_of,his

Solomon is using one part of a person, his mouth*, to represent all of a king in the act of announcing his judgment. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “he will not speak unfaithfully.”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / personification
לֹ֣א יִמְעַל

not sin

Here Solomon speaks of the mouth of a king as if it were a person who would not act unfaithfully. Alternate translation: “will not be unjust”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes
לֹ֣א יִמְעַל

not sin

Solomon is using a figure of speech here that expresses a strongly positive meaning by using a negative word, not, together with an expression that is the opposite of the intended meaning. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the positive meaning by using positive words. Alternate translation: “will certainly act faithfully”

OET interlinear PROV 16:10

Hebrew word order

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

16:10–15

16:10

16:10a

16:10b

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)