PROV 22:12 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

22:12

This proverb contrasts the different ways that the LORD deals with truth and falsehood. He preserves what is true, but he disproves information that is false.UBS (page 468), Ross (page 1063). Most versions and scholars translate these lines as two contrasting situations. But the parallelism may imply that the contrasts described here are closely related. It is possible that the LORD protects the truth by showing that the treacherous person has told a lie. For example, the GNT has: “The Lord sees to it that truth is kept safe by disproving the words of liars.” Waltke (page 213) indicates a similar relationship. He says that the LORD “subverts the words…of the treacherous…so that his truth alone endures.”

The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge,

but he frustrates the words of the faithless.

22:12a

The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge,

Yahweh protects/preserves the truth so that it remains unchanged,
Yahweh makes sure that the true teaching/words of wise people are confirmed/accepted.

The LORD’s eyes: This phrase is a figure of speech (synecdoche) that represents the LORD himself. Some ways to translate this figure of speech are:

In languages that have a similar figure of speech, it may be possible to keep the figurative language. For example:
The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge (NASB)
In other languages, it will be clearer to refer to The LORD directly, because “knowledge” is not something that the LORD literally watches or sees. For example:
The Lord guards knowledge (NCV)

keep watch over knowledge: In this phrase, the word knowledge is a figure of speech (metonymy). There are two main ways to interpret what it represents:

Knowledge represents the content of knowledge. It refers to what is true or what a person knows. For example:
The Lord sees to it that truth is kept safe (GNT) (GNT)
Knowledge represents a person who has knowledge. It refers to a wise or knowledgeable person. For example:
The Lord preserves those with knowledge (NLT) (CEV, NJPS, NLT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).Most English versions translate “knowledge” literally as an abstract noun, so TN has not listed them in support of either interpretation. However, in normal English usage, the word “knowledge” refers to information that is known or true. It never refers to a person who has knowledge. In Proverbs, knowledge almost always refers to something that a person knows, learns, or makes known to others.Of the thirty-nine other times where the word “knowledge” occurs in Proverbs, it refers thirty-six times to wise or true information that a person knows, gains, learns, or speaks. In the three verses where it refers to a person who has knowledge (8:9, 17:27, 24:5), a phrase such as “one having” or “man of” precedes the word “knowledge.” This interpretation is also probably implied by the contrast with the parallel phrase “the words of the faithless” in 22:12b.Waltke (page 213).

keep watch: The Hebrew verb that the BSB translates as keep watch is used figuratively here.This verb (naṣar) is not the same verb that was used in 20:5b (šamar). However, it has a similar meaning and is frequently used as a parallel term in poetic passages. It means that the LORD protects or preserves true words or teaching.Waltke (page 213) and Fox (page 701) identify “knowledge” as wise words that are spoken by faithful teachers. Cohen (page 148) says that it means the same thing as “true doctrine.” Probably both aspects of meaning are included here. He confirms or shows that it is true, so that it is not rejected, forgotten, or changed.

Some other ways to translate 22:12a are:

The LORD guards/preserves the truth

The LORD ensures that true words are confirmed/preserved

22:12b

but He frustrates the words of the faithless.

but he does not allow the plans/words of deceitful people to succeed.
As for the lies of people who cannot be trusted, he shows/proves that they are not true.

but He frustrates: In this context, the word frustrates indicates that the LORD prevents the words of unfaithful people from accomplishing their wicked purpose. He shows that their words are false. As a result, people do not believe them, and their plans fail.Longman (page 407), Cohen (page 148).

the words: In Hebrew, this word can refer to schemes or plans as well as words.UBS (page 469), Fox (page 701).

of the faithless: The word that the BSB translates here as faithless describes someone who acts treacherously or breaks an agreement. The words or plans of such a person are false and deceive others.

For more information on the word faithless, see the note on 2:22a–b. The word last occurred in 21:18b.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

but he overturns the words of a treacherous person (GW)

but he frustrates the plans of deceitful liars (CEV)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

עֵינֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה

both_eyes_of YHWH

This phrase refers to Yahweh himself. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly, as in the UST.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

נָ֣צְרוּ דָ֑עַת

keep_watch_over knowledge

Here Solomon speaks of knowledge as if it were an object that Yahweh guards. He means that Yahweh prevents the content of true knowledge from being forgotten. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “prevents true knowledge from being forgotten”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וַ֝⁠יְסַלֵּ֗ף

and,he_has_subverted

Here Solomon refers to Yahweh preventing the words of treacherous people from accomplishing their purposes as if he overturns them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and he prevents the success of”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

דִּבְרֵ֥י

words_of

See how you translated the similar use of words in [1:23](../01/23.md).

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

בֹגֵֽד

faithless

Here, one who is treacherous refers to this type of person in general, not a specific treacherous person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a more natural phrase. Alternate translation: “any person who is treacherous”

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.

OET interlinear PROV 22:12

Hebrew word order

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

22:12

22:12a

22:12b

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