PROV 16:8 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

16:8

This proverb compares the living situation of two people. The situation of the person in 16:8a is better than the situation of the person in 16:8b. Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^8aBetter a little with righteousness

^8bthan great gain with injustice.

The first line describes a poor person who continues to do what is right. This person’s situation in life is better than a person who becomes rich by treating other people unjustly or dishonestly.

This is another four-part “better than” proverb. The four parts are:

A: a poor person (undesirable)

B: does what is right (very desirable)

C: a person who becomes rich (desirable)

D: treats others unjustly (very undesirable)

See the note on 12:9 for more details on this kind of proverb.

16:8a

Better a little with righteousness

It is better for a person to have only a few possessions and at the same time to be righteous
The situation of a poor person who does what is right is better

Better a little with righteousness: This line is similar to 15:16, except that it has righteousness instead of “the fear of the LORD.”

16:8b

than great gain with injustice.

than it is to be wealthy and at the same time to be dishonest.
than the situation of a very rich person who has gained his money by cheating others.

than great gain: The word that the BSB translates as gain often refers to crops or produce. Here it refers more generally to income, possessions, or wealth.

with injustice: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “with no justice.” The word “justice” can refer to legal decisions that are just and fair. It can also refer to treating other people honestly and fairly.

Here, “great gain with injustice” probably refers to a large income or great wealth that is gained by dishonesty, cheating, or other unjust means.

General Comment on 16:8a–b

Some other ways to translate this verse are:

Better a few possessions gained honestly than many gained through injustice. (GW)

It is better to be poor and right than to be wealthy and dishonest. (NCV)

It is better to have a little, honestly earned, than to have a large income, dishonestly gained. (GNT)

In some languages, it may be difficult to express a complex comparison in one sentence. Another way to translate it is to divide this verse into two or more sentences. For example:

Some people are poor, but they always do what is right. Other people become wealthy, but they get their money by cheating their fellowmen. Whose lives are better? The first kind of people.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

טוֹב־מְ֭עַט בִּ⁠צְדָקָ֑ה מֵ⁠רֹ֥ב תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת בְּ⁠לֹ֣א מִשְׁפָּֽט

good a_little with,righteousness more,than_greatness_of income with,not justice

The author assumes that his readers will understand that a little refers to the person having the things needed to maintain life. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “It is better for a person to have a little of what they need with righteousness than for a person to have an abundance of produce with no justice” or “A person who has a little of what they need with righteousness is better off than a person who has an abundance of produce with no justice.”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

טוֹב־מְ֭עַט

good a_little

See how you translated this phrase in [15:16](../15/16.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בִּ⁠צְדָקָ֑ה

with,righteousness

Here Solomon refers to being righteous as if that righteousness were an object that someone could have with a little. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “while having righteousness” or “while being righteous”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

מֵ⁠רֹ֥ב תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת בְּ⁠לֹ֣א מִשְׁפָּֽט

more,than_greatness_of income with,not justice

See how you translated an abundance of produce in [14:4](../14/04.md) and no justice in [13:23](../13/23.md).

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בְּ⁠לֹ֣א מִשְׁפָּֽט

with,not justice

Here Solomon refers to a lack of justice as if justice were an object that someone did not have with an abundance of produce. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and not having justice” or “while having no justice”

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.