PROV 20:9 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

20:9

This verse uses a rhetorical question to emphasize that no one can truthfully claim to be morally pure. The parallel parts give the content of the rhetorical question. They are similar in meaning.

^9aWho can say, “I have kept my heart pure;

^9b I am cleansed from my sin”?

20:9a

Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;

Is there anyone who can claim to have a clean conscience/mind?
There is no one who can truthfully say, “I have made my thoughts/mind clean.

Who can say: This clause is a rhetorical question. The implied answer is “No one.” Some other ways to translate this question are:

Use a slightly different rhetorical question. For example:
Can any of us really say, “…”? (CEV)
Use a rhetorical question and make the implied answer explicit. For example:
Who can say, “…”? No one, of course!
Use a statement. For example:
No one can say, “…” (NCV)

I have kept my heart pure: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “I have purified/cleansed my heart.” It can refer to a past action or to a present condition. For example:

I have cleansed my heart (NJB)

I am innocent (NCV)

This clause refers primarily to a person’s thoughts and motives. Some other ways to express this meaning are:

My thoughts are pure (CEV)

I have a clear conscience (REB)

20:9b

I am cleansed from my sin”?

Can anyone say, “I am not guilty of any sin”? Of course not!
I have not done anything wrong.”

I am cleansed from my sin: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “I am pure from my sin,” as in the NASB. The verb “to be pure/clean” is used frequently in the Old Testament to refer to ritual cleanness. Here it refers primarily to a person who is morally pure and is not guilty of sinful deeds. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

I am purified of my sin (NJB)

I am pure and free from sin (NLT)

General Comment on 20:9a–b

In addition to the options given in 20:9a, some other ways to translate the parallel parts are:

Use a rhetorical question for each line. See the first meaning line in the Display.
Use a rhetorical question for one line and a statement for the other line. For example:
Can anyone say, “I have a clean conscience”? No, no one can truthfully say, “I am not guilty of any sin.”
Use an indirect quote in one or both lines. For example:
Can anyone really say that his conscience is clear, that he has gotten rid of his sin? (GNT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

מִֽי־יֹ֭אמַר זִכִּ֣יתִי לִבִּ֑⁠י טָ֝הַ֗רְתִּי מֵ⁠חַטָּאתִֽ⁠י

who? say kept_~_pure heart_of,my pure from,sin_of,my

Solomon is using the question form to emphasize that no one is sinless. 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: “Certainly no one can say, ‘I have made my heart pure, I am clean from my sin!’”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / quotations

מִֽי־יֹ֭אמַר זִכִּ֣יתִי לִבִּ֑⁠י טָ֝הַ֗רְתִּי מֵ⁠חַטָּאתִֽ⁠י

who? say kept_~_pure heart_of,my pure from,sin_of,my

If it would be more natural in your language, you could express this as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: “Who can say that he has made his heart pure, that he is clean from his sin”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

זִכִּ֣יתִי לִבִּ֑⁠י

kept_~_pure heart_of,my

Here Solomon refers to a person who no longer thinks sinfully as if that person made his heart pure. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “I have cleansed my heart”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

לִבִּ֑⁠י

heart_of,my

See how you translated the same use of heart in [2:2](../02/02.md).

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

טָ֝הַ֗רְתִּי מֵ⁠חַטָּאתִֽ⁠י

pure from,sin_of,my

Here Solomon refers to a person who no longer sins as if that person were clean from his sin. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “I no longer sin”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

מֵ⁠חַטָּאתִֽ⁠י

from,sin_of,my

See how you translated abstract noun sin in [5:22](../05/22.md).

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.