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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV

Prov C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24 C25 C26 C27 C28 C29 C30 C31

Prov 21 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V24 V25 V26 V27 V28 V29 V30 V31

OET interlinear PROV 21:23

◄ ← PROV 21:23 ↓ → ► ║ ©

Hebrew word order

    1. Hebrew word
    2. Hebrew lemma
    3. OET-LV words
    4. OET-RV words
    5. Strongs
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. Gloss
    8. CAPS codes
    9. OET tags
    10. OET word #
    1. שֹׁמֵר
    2. 394600
    3. one who guards
    4. guards
    5. 8104
    6. V-Vqrmsa
    7. [one_who]_guards
    8. S
    9. Y-1000
    10. 275175
    1. פִּי,ו
    2. 394601,394602
    3. mouth of his
    4. mouth
    5. 6310
    6. O-Ncmsc,Sp3ms
    7. mouth_of,his
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 275176
    1. וּ,לְשׁוֹנ,וֹ
    2. 394603,394604,394605
    3. and tongue of his
    4. and tongue
    5. 3956
    6. O-C,Ncbsc,Sp3ms
    7. and,tongue_of,his
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 275177
    1. שֹׁמֵר
    2. 394606
    3. +is keeping
    4. -
    5. 8104
    6. V-Vqrmsa
    7. [is]_keeping
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 275178
    1. מִ,צָּרוֹת
    2. 394607,394608
    3. from troubles
    4. trouble
    6. S-R,Ncfpa
    7. from,troubles
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 275179
    1. נַפְשׁ,וֹ
    2. 394609,394610
    3. self of his
    4. life
    5. 5315
    6. O-Ncbsc,Sp3ms
    7. self_of,his
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 275180
    2. 394611
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-sof-pasuq
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 275181

OET (OET-LV) one_who_guards mouth_of_his and_tongue_of_his is_keeping from_troubles self_of_his.

OET (OET-RV) Any person who guards their mouth and tongue
 ⇔ → will keep trouble away from their life.

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

21:23

This proverb describes the results of guarding one’s speech. It is also an implied warning. It warns people to be careful with what they say in order to avoid trouble.

23aHe who guards his mouth and his tongue

23bkeeps his soul from distress.

21:23a

He who guards his mouth and tongue

He who guards his mouth and tongue: There are two figures of speech (metonymy) in the phrase his mouth and tongue. Both the mouth and the tongue represent the words that the person speaks.

These two figures of speech often occur in parallel lines. Here they both occur in the same line. This probably emphasizes that the person needs to be very careful in what he says.Waltke (page 185). He should not speak without thinking.

Some other ways to translate this part of the verse are:

Those who are careful about what they say (NCV)

A person who thinks carefully before he speaks

21:23a–b

(combined/reordered)

21:23b

keeps his soul from distress.

keeps his soul from distress: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “keeps/preserves his soul/self from troubles.” The plural word “troubles” indicates a variety of difficulties. They may be legal troubles or problems with relationships in the community.Waltke (page 186), Hubbard (page 277), Ross (page 1057).

keep themselves out of trouble (NCV)

can save you a lot of trouble (CEV)

General Comment on 21:23a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of these two verse parts. For example:

If you want to stay out of trouble, be careful what you say. (GNT)

See also 21:23a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

שֹׁמֵ֣ר פִּ֭י⁠ו וּ⁠לְשׁוֹנ֑⁠וֹ שֹׁמֵ֖ר & נַפְשֽׁ⁠וֹ

he/it_was_watching mouth_of,his and,tongue_of,his he/it_was_watching & self_of,his

One who keeps and his refer to a type of person in general, not one specific person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “Any person who keeps that person’s own mouth and tongue keeps that person’s life”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

שֹׁמֵ֣ר

he/it_was_watching

Here Solomon refers to a person being careful about what he says with his mouth and his tongue as if they were objects that he keeps. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “One who is careful with”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

פִּ֭י⁠ו וּ⁠לְשׁוֹנ֑⁠וֹ

mouth_of,his and,tongue_of,his

The terms mouth and tongue mean similar things. They both refer to what a person says. Solomon is using the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: “whatever he says”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

נַפְשֽׁ⁠וֹ

self_of,his

Here, life refers to the person himself. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “himself”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

מִ⁠צָּר֣וֹת

from,troubles

See how you translated the abstract noun distress in [1:27](../01/27.md).

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

    1. OET-LV words
    2. OET-RV words
    3. Strongs
    4. Hebrew word
    5. Hebrew lemma
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. Gloss
    8. CAPS codes
    9. OET tags
    10. OET word #
    1. one who guards
    2. guards
    3. 7842
    5. 394600
    6. V-Vqrmsa
    8. S
    9. Y-1000
    10. 275175
    1. mouth of his
    2. mouth
    3. 6255,1978
    5. 394601,394602
    6. O-Ncmsc,Sp3ms
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 275176
    1. and tongue of his
    2. and tongue
    3. 1987,3834,1978
    5. 394603,394604,394605
    6. O-C,Ncbsc,Sp3ms
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 275177
    1. +is keeping
    2. -
    3. 7842
    5. 394606
    6. V-Vqrmsa
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 275178
    1. from troubles
    2. trouble
    3. 4129,6694
    5. 394607,394608
    6. S-R,Ncfpa
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 275179
    1. self of his
    2. life
    3. 5059,1978
    5. 394609,394610
    6. O-Ncbsc,Sp3ms
    8. -
    9. Y-1000
    10. 275180

OET (OET-LV) one_who_guards mouth_of_his and_tongue_of_his is_keeping from_troubles self_of_his.

OET (OET-RV) Any person who guards their mouth and tongue
 ⇔ → will keep trouble away from their life.

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.OET logo mark

◄ ← PROV 21:23 ↑ → ► ║ ©