PROV 21:8 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

21:8

This proverb contrasts the devious conduct of guilty people with the upright conduct of innocent people.

^8a The way of a guilty man is crooked,

^8bbut the conduct of the innocent is upright.

21:8a–b

The way…the conduct: These parallel terms both refer to conduct, behavior, or way of life. No contrast is intended between them in this context.

a guilty man…the innocent: These two terms identify two types of people who have contrasting character.

is crooked…is upright: These two terms describe the contrasting behavior or conduct of people who are “guilty” and “innocent,” respectively. The first term refers to a way of life that is “devious” (NIV) or “dishonest” (NCV). The second term describes behavior that is “straight” (NJB), “honest” (NCV) or “right” (NAB).Fox (page 682), UBS (page 444), Garrett (page 180).

Some ways to translate the contrasts in this verse are:

Use the metaphor of a way or path in one or both lines. For example:
The guilty walk a crooked path; the innocent travel a straight road. (NLT)
Translate the meaning without using this metaphor. For example:
Guilty people live dishonest lives, but honest people do right. (NCV)

21:8a

The way of a guilty man is crooked,

Criminals/Sinners follow a crooked path.
The behavior/conduct of guilty people is dishonest/deceptive,

a guilty man: This term occurs only here in the Old Testament. It refers to a person who is burdened with sin or crime.See NIDOTTE (H2261), which derives this word from the Arabic root wzr. Most English versions translate it as the BSB does. Here are some other ways to translate this:

criminal (REB)

culprit (NAB)

felon (NJB)

21:8b

but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

People whose lives are pure/clean choose a straight path.
but people who are innocent consistently do what is right/honest.

the innocent: In Hebrew, this term refers to a person whose character is “pure” (NRSV) in the sense of being “unmixed with evil.” In English, the word innocent provides a good contrast with words such as “guilty” or “criminal.” (See the notes on the same word at 16:2a and 20:11b.)

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.