PROV 22:29 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 22:17–24:22: Here are thirty sayings of wise people

This section follows the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs (10:1–22:16). It differs in significant ways from this preceding section:These differences were summarized from a number of commentaries, including UBS (page 472), Waltke (2004, page 22), and Hubbard (page 351).

The preceding section has mostly two-line proverbs that are one verse in length. This section has proverbs of a different form. They are sayings that range from one to seven verses. Most of the sayings are two or three verses in length. Each saying will be marked as a separate paragraph in the Notes.
Many of the proverbs in the preceding section express a general principle. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. Most of the sayings here contain direct commands. They advise the reader or listener either to follow wise behavior or avoid foolish behavior. Most of the sayings also give a reason or motive for following the command.
As in chapters 1–9, the author addresses his reader or listener as a father who advises his son. He uses second person commands and pronouns (you^(sing)). See the note on 23:15 for a list of verses where the words “my son” occur.

Some other headings for this section are:

Thirty Wise Sayings (CEV)

Words of the Wise (ESV)

Thirty Sayings of the Wise (NIV11)

Verse 22:20 mentions “thirty sayings,” but the Hebrew text itself does not number the sayings. Some versions that use the word “thirty” in the section heading also give a number as a separate heading for each saying. The GNT and CEV start numbering the sayings at 22:22. They have a total of thirty-one paragraphs. In these versions, the first paragraph (22:17–21) serves as an introduction to the thirty sayings (22:22–24:22).Scholars who identify 22:17–21 as the first saying include Hubbard (page 352), Fox (page 707), and Waltke (2004, page 22). Scholars who identify these verses as an introduction to the sayings that follow include Whybray (page 325) and Murphy (page 170). See also the NET footnote (b) on 22:16. Whether these introductory verses form the first saying or simply introduce the following sayings, all scholars agree that they function as an introduction to the whole section. Other versions, such as the NIV, NCV, and NLT, divide the paragraphs in the same way but do not have separate headings for each section. You may use either option in your translation.The NIV11 gives a number as a separate heading for each saying. But it counts the first paragraph as the first saying, and has a total of thirty paragraphs. Other versions have more or fewer paragraphs. For example, the ESV and NRSV have fifteen paragraphs. The NJB has thirty-four. Still other versions, such as the RSV, NET, and NJPS, do not group the verses into sayings or paragraphs.

For the convenience of those who decide to identify the number of each saying in their translation, the Notes will put the number in the paragraph headings, using the same numbering system as the GNT or CEV. These numbers will not be used in the Display.

Paragraph 22:29 Saying 5

The overall meaning of this saying is that a person who does high quality work can expect to be hired by kings rather than common people.

22:29

Notice the contrasting parallel parts:

^29aDo you see a man skilled in his work?

^29bHe will be stationed in the presence of kings;

^29che will not stand before obscure men.

22:29a

Do you see a man skilled in his work?

¶ Consider a person who does his work skillfully/well.
¶ If there is a person who is a competent/good worker, what will happen to him?

Do you see a man skilled in his work?: In Hebrew, this clause is a statement. For example:

You see an artisan skillful at his craft (REB)

Most versions, including the BSB, translate this clause as a rhetorical question. The purpose of the clause is to encourage the listener to think about a person who has a reputation for doing high-quality work. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Show me someone who is a truly competent worker

When a person does his job well

Think about a person who is very skillful in his work

work: In Hebrew, this word can refer to any kind of work or duties, including the work of a scribe, craftsman, or businessman.

22:29b–c

He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

He will serve kings, not people of low status.
He will not be ignored to work for lowly people. Instead he will be promoted to work for kings/rulers.

He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men: These two lines describe a benefit that the skilled worker can expect to receive. He can expect to serve kings (22:29b). By contrast, he will not be employed by ordinary people (22:29c).

He will be stationed in the presence of kings: In Hebrew, this clause is literally, “before kings he will take his stand.” This clause indicates that the skilled worker will enter the service of kings.Cohen (page 151), UBS (page 484). It may indicate specifically that he will be employed in the king’s court. It may also indicate more generally that he will work for the king.

kings: In some languages, it will be more appropriate to use a general word. For example:

you will work for a ruler (CEV)

obscure men: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “the darknesses.” The contrast with “kings” suggests that this unusual phrase refers to people who are insignificant or relatively unknown. Many languages will have idioms that refer to such people.

Some ways to translate these two lines are:

he will serve kings, not common men (REB)

They will work for kings, not for ordinary people. (NCV)

He will serve kings. He will not serve unknown people. (GW)

General Comment on 22:29b–c

In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder these two lines. For example:

The ones he will work for ^29cwill not be people of low status ^29bbut rather kings.

uW Translation Notes:

[22:29](../22/29.md) is Saying 5 of the 30 “words of the wise ones.”

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

חָזִ֡יתָ אִ֤ישׁ ׀ מָ֘הִ֤יר בִּ⁠מְלַאכְתּ֗⁠וֹ

see (a)_man skilled in,work_of,his

Although the Hebrew text is not worded as a question, several translations make this clause into a rhetorical question. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this as a question. Alternate translation: “Have you seen a man skilled in his work?”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

אִ֤ישׁ ׀ מָ֘הִ֤יר בִּ⁠מְלַאכְתּ֗⁠וֹ & יִתְיַצָּ֑ב בַּל־יִ֝תְיַצֵּב

(a)_man skilled in,work_of,his & serve not serve

Here, a skilled man, his, he, and himself refer to a type of person in general, not a specific man. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “people skilled in their work; those people will station themselves … they will not station themselves”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

לִֽ⁠פְנֵֽי & יִתְיַצָּ֑ב בַּל־יִ֝תְיַצֵּב לִ⁠פְנֵ֥י

to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before & serve not serve to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before

The phrase station himself before the face of is an idiom that means “to enter the service of.” If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “he will enter the service of … he will not enter the service of”

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 22:29