PROV 23:18 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 23:17–18 Saying 14

In the first verse of this saying, the author gives his “son” (see 23:15) two contrasting commands. In the last verse, he promises the young man that following these commands will have good results.

23:18

This verse promises the young man that if he obeys the contrasting commands in 23:17, especially the advice in 23:17b, he can confidently hope for a good future. Notice the parallel lines that are similar in meaning:

^18aFor surely there is a future,

^18band your hope will not be cut off.

23:18a

For surely there is a future,

Your^(sing) life in the future will be good indeed.
For in the future you will certainly have a long and successful/good life,

For surely there is a future: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “for if there is a future.” The two Hebrew words that begin this clause have more than one function.The Hebrew words that occur here (ki ʾim) are the same words that introduce 23:17b. There they indicate a contrast. Here in 23:18a they have three main functions, as indicated in the Notes. See Waltke (pages 246, 255). The main ways to interpret their function are:

They emphasize the certainty of the young man’s good future.In this interpretation, the Hebrew words (ki ʾim) function together as a unit that introduces certainty. See NIDOTTE (Vol. 4, p. 1032) and Waltke (page 246). This good future gives the implied motivation for obeying the commands in 23:17. So versions with “For surely” will be listed here as well. For example:
Surely there is a future (ESV)
For surely there is a future (NET) (BSB, ESV, GW, NAB, NASB, NET, NIV, NLT96, NRSV)
They indicate that a good future is the reason or motivation for obeying the commands in 23:17.In this interpretation, the Hebrew words (ki ʾim) function as two separate particles. The first word (ki) indicates reason/motivation. The function of the second word (ʾim) is uncertain here. The standard function of (ʾim) is to introduce a condition “if.” But here that function does not fit. See Fox (page 734), Whybray (page 337) and Toy (page 434) for more details. For example:
For there is a future (NJB) (NJB)
They indicate that a good future is the result as well as the implied reason for obeying the commands in 23:17.See Murphy (page 172) and Longman (page 421). Most lexicons, grammars and commentaries do not include “result” as a possible function of (ki ʾim). So versions with “For then” will be listed here as well as versions that indicate only result. For example:
Then you will have hope for the future (NCV)
for then you will have a future (NJPS) (CEV, NCV, NJPS, NLT, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most English versions.

a future: The Hebrew word that the BSB and most versions translate as a future refers to the rest of the young man’s life, including its end. In this context, it implies that he can look forward to a long, happy, and prosperous life followed by an honorable death.Whybray (page 337), Murphy (page 176). Most of the commentaries used in these Notes agree that here in Proverbs the word ʾaḥarit “future, end, afterward” does not refer to a future life after death.

23:18a–b

(combined/reordered)

The good things that you^(sing) hope will happen in the remaining days/years of your life will certainly come true.

23:18b

and your hope will not be cut off.

Yes, what you^(sing) hope for will definitely happen.
and this good life that you expect/hope to enjoy will surely not be taken away from you.

and your hope will not be cut off: This clause further describes the good “future” that the young man hopes to enjoy. It indicates that this hope will not be removed or ended prematurely. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

and your hope will not come to nothing (NJB)

your hope will not be disappointed (NLT)

and your wishes will come true (NCV)

General Comment on 23:18a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder and/or combine the parallel ideas of “future” and “hope.” For example:

For it is certain that what you hope for in the future will be fulfilled.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

כִּ֭י אִם־יֵ֣שׁ אַחֲרִ֑ית

that/for/because/then/when if there_is future

Here the writer implies that the contents of the verse are true if the person has “the fear of Yahweh” mentioned in the previous verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “If you have the fear of Yahweh, then surely there is a future”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

יֵ֣שׁ אַחֲרִ֑ית

there_is future

Here, the writer implies that the future is good and is for the person addressed as your in the next clause. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “there is a good future for you”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

וְ֝⁠תִקְוָתְ⁠ךָ֗ לֹ֣א תִכָּרֵֽת

and,hope_of,your not cut_off

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. The context implies that Yahweh will do the action. Alternate translation: “and Yahweh will not cut off your hope”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

וְ֝⁠תִקְוָתְ⁠ךָ֗

and,hope_of,your

See how you translated the abstract noun hope in [10:28](../10/28.md).

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לֹ֣א תִכָּרֵֽת

not cut_off

Here, the writer speaks of hope as if it were an object that could be cut off. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “will not remain unfulfilled” or “will not fail to become reality”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes

לֹ֣א תִכָּרֵֽת

not cut_off

The writer is using a figure of speech here that expresses a strongly positive meaning by using a negative word, not, together with an expression that is the opposite of the intended meaning. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the positive meaning. Alternate translation: “will surely become reality”

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 23:18

Hebrew word order