PROV 20:29 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

20:29

This proverb contrasts characteristics that people admire in men who are young and those who are old.

^29a The glory of young men is their strength,

^29band gray hair is the splendor of the old.

The BSB has used a chiasm to emphasize the contrast between the different characteristics. In Hebrew, the parallel parts occur in the same order, as in the ESV:

^29a The glory of young men is their strength,

^29bbut the splendor of the old is their gray hair. (ESV)

Notice that the ESV has used the conjunction “but” to introduce the contrast. The BSB uses “and.” The NIV does not use a conjunction. Connect the two lines of this verse in a way that expresses this kind of contrast effectively and naturally.

20:29a–b

The glory…the splendor: These parallel terms have almost the same meaning here. For glory, see 4:9a–b, where the BSB translates the word as “beauty.” For splendor, see 14:28a, where the BSB translates the word as “splendor.” In this context, both terms refer to a characteristic in which a person takes pride or which other people admire. Some other ways that English versions translate these terms are:

pride…ornament (NJB)

glory…dignity (REB)

We admire…respect (GNT)

young men…the old: In Hebrew, the singular form of young men refers to a young man in the prime of life. The masculine plural form used here can refer to young women as well as young men.UBS (page 434). In the context of Proverbs, this verse refers primarily to young men and old men, as in the ESV (quoted above).

If your language has gender-neutral terms for young people and old people, you may use those terms. Some languages use different terms for “young men” and “young women.” They also use different terms for “old men” and “old women.” If that is true in your language, it is probably better to use the set of terms that refers to men.

20:29a

The glory of young men is their strength,

Young men are proud of their strength.
We^(incl) admire/respect young people because they are strong.

The glory of young men is their strength: The word strength refers here to physical strength and energy. Some other ways to translate 20:29a are:

Young people take pride in their strength (NCV)

We admire the strength of youth (GNT)

20:29b

and gray hair is the splendor of the old.

As for old men, it is their gray hair that gives them honor/respect.
We^(incl) respect/honor old people because they are wise and experienced.

gray hair: In Hebrew, gray hair is a single word. It is used here as a figure of speech (metonymy). It represents both old age and the wisdom and experience that accompany old age.Ross (page 1049), Hubbard (page 306). Some ways to translate this figure of speech are:

Use a similar figure of speech. For example:
their silver hair (GW)
Make the meaning explicit along with the figure of speech. For example:
the gray hair of experience (NLT)
the gray hairs of wisdom (CEV)
the gray hair of age (GNT)
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
their old age
their wisdom/experience

Some other ways to translate 20:29b are:

and old men are honored for their gray hair (NCV)

and we respect old people for their age and experience

Compare this translation advice with the notes on 16:31a. The words used there are slightly different, and the context is also different.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

תִּפְאֶ֣רֶת & כֹּחָ֑⁠ם

glory_of & strength_of,[is]_their

See how you translated the abstract nouns splendor in [4:9](../04/09.md) and strength in [5:10](../05/10.md).

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

וַ⁠הֲדַ֖ר זְקֵנִ֣ים שֵׂיבָֽה

and_[the],splendor_of old gray_hair

The idea of this clause is in contrast with the idea of the previous clause. Use the most natural way in your language to indicate a contrast. You may need to start a new sentence. Alternate translation: “However, the adornment of old ones is gray hair”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

וַ⁠הֲדַ֖ר

and_[the],splendor_of

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of adornment, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “and what adorns”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

שֵׂיבָֽה

gray_hair

Here, gray hair refers to the wisdom or experience often found in people have who have lived long enough to have gray hair. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “is their wisdom”

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.