PROV 20:24 Interlinear View

20:24 OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

20:24 OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

20:24 OSHB note: We read one or more vowels in L differently from BHS.

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

20:24

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^24a A man’s steps are from the LORD.

^24bso how can anyone understand his own way?

The second line gives the result of the first line. The LORD is the one who determines the course of a person’s life. So no human can understand what will happen in his own life.

The first line of this proverb has the same meaning as 16:9a. See the notes on 16:9a.

20:24a

A man’s steps are from the LORD,

Yahweh directs the path that we^(incl) take,
Yahweh alone determines what happens in a person’s life.

A man’s steps: The phrase A man’s steps is a figure of speech that represents the direction or outcome of a person’s life. It refers to the things that happen to him. The GNT uses a related figure of speech. It has:

our path

are from the LORD: In Hebrew, the phrase are from the LORD is literally “from the LORD.” Most English versions supply a verb such as “directed” (NIV) or “determined” (GNT) to clarify the meaning.

The REB emphasizes the contrast between the LORD’s control of events and a person’s inability to know what will happen. It has:

It is the Lord who directs a person’s steps

20:24a–b

(combined/reordered)

It is impossible for a person to understand/know the direction/outcome of his life, because it is Yahweh who decides what happens.

20:24b

so how can anyone understand his own way?

so how can any of us^(incl) understand the things that will happen to us?
Therefore none of us can fully know the direction/outcome of our lives.

so how can anyone understand his own way?: This is a rhetorical question. Its function is to emphasize that no one can fully know or understand the direction that his own life will take. The phrase his own way has the same meaning as “a man’s steps.” Some other ways to express the emphasis in this rhetorical question are:

General Comment on 20:24a–b

Use a rhetorical question. For example:
how can anyone understand the road he travels? (REB)
Change the rhetorical question to a statement. For example:
It is not possible for a person to know what will happen in his own life.

In some languages, it may be more natural to give the result before the reason. For example:

^24bNo one can know where he will walk, ^24abecause the LORD is the one who determines his steps.

See also 20:24a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

מֵ⁠יהוָ֥ה מִצְעֲדֵי

[are]_from,Yahweh steps_of

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Yahweh directs a person’s steps”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

מִצְעֲדֵי & דַּרְכּֽ⁠וֹ

steps_of & its=road/course

In this verse, steps and way refer to the things that people experience during their lives. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. See how you translated the similar use of “path” in [4:18](../04/18.md). Alternate translation: “are the life experiences of … his life experiences”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

גָ֑בֶר וְ֝⁠אָדָ֗ם & דַּרְכּֽ⁠וֹ

man's and=human/ʼĀdām & its=road/course

Here, a strong man, a man, and his refer to types of people in general, not to a specific man. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “any strong person, so … a person … that person’s way”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

וְ֝⁠אָדָ֗ם מַה־יָּבִ֥ין דַּרְכּֽ⁠וֹ

and=human/ʼĀdām what? understand its=road/course

Solomon is using the question form to emphasize the truth of what he is saying. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “so surely a man cannot understand his way!”

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

וְ֝⁠אָדָ֗ם מַה־יָּבִ֥ין

and=human/ʼĀdām what? understand

Here, so introduces the result of what was stated in the previous clause. Use the most natural way in your language to indicate result. You may need to start a new sentence. Alternate translation: “Therefore, how can a man understand”

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