PROV 23:20 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 23:19–21 Saying 15

This saying warns the son not to participate in excessive drinking and eating. Verse 23:19 exhorts the son to pay attention to the teacher’s advice. Verse 23:20 gives the actual warning. Verse 23:21 explains why the son should heed the warning.

23:20

In this verse, the father now gives the advice that he commanded his son to listen to in 23:19. The parallel commands urge the son to avoid drunkenness and gluttony. Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^20aDo not join those who drink too much wine

^20bor gorge themselves on meat,

There is an ellipsis in 23:20b. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing verb and following phrase from 23:20a. For example:

^20band do not join those who gorge themselves on meat,

23:20a–b

Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.

Do not be^(sing) one of those people who drinks too much wine or eats too much meat.
Do not be a drunkard or a glutton.
Do not join people who are getting drunk and eating until they are too full.

Do not join: In Hebrew, this command is literally “Do not be among.” It has exactly the same form as the similar command in 22:26a–b. See the note there. The form of this command indicates that there are people who eat and drink too much. The son should not be one of those people.

those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat: In Hebrew, these parallel phrases are more literally “drunkards of wine” and “gluttons of meat.” In some languages, it may be more natural to use general terms. For example:

those who get drunk or eat too much food

Some ways to translate these parallel commands are:

Advise the son not to associate with people who are drunkards and gluttons. Imply that he should not participate in these activities. For example:
Do not be of those who guzzle wine, or glut themselves on meat (NJPS)
Do not spend time among drunkards, among those who eat too much meat (NET)
Advise the son directly not to get drunk or eat too much. For example:
Don’t drink too much wine or eat too much food. (NCV)
Don’t be a heavy drinker or stuff yourself with food. (CEV)
Make explicit a situation in which people tend to get drunk and overeat. For example:
Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons (NLT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

אַל־תְּהִ֥י בְ⁠סֹֽבְאֵי

not be among,drunkards_of

See how you translated the same use of Do not be among in [22:26](../22/26.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

בְּ⁠זֹלֲלֵ֖י בָשָׂ֣ר

among,gluttons_of flesh/meat

The writer is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a clause would need in order to be complete. You could supply these words from the previous clause if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “and do not be among gluttonous eaters of flesh”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

בָשָׂ֣ר

flesh/meat

Here, flesh refers to meat, which is animal flesh. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly, as in the UST.

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 23:20

Hebrew word order

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

Paragraph 23:19–21 Saying 15

23:20

23:20a–b

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