PROV 23:25 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 23:22–25 Saying 16

In this saying, the father advises his son to pay attention to his father and mother (23:22). He should learn from them the truth that will make him wise (23:23). This will make them very happy (23:24–25).

The father’s role in giving birth to the son is mentioned twice. The mother’s role is mentioned once. This threefold mention strongly reminds the son that he owes his very life to both parents, so he should listen to them with respect.

23:25

This verse is an indirect appeal to the son that he would cause his parents to be happy. This appeal is based on the preceding verse. He will make them happy by acting in a way that is righteous and wise (23:24). Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^25a May your father and mother be glad,

^25b may she who gave you birth rejoice!

The NLT makes the connection between verse 23:24 and 23:25 explicit. It has:

^25a So give your father and mother joy!

23:25a–b

(combined/reordered)

So do your^(sing) best to be a person like that so that you will cause your father and mother to be happy.

May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!: In Hebrew, these similar verbs both function as indirect commands or appeals to the son. Some other ways to translate the first command are:

Give your father and mother cause for delight (REB)

Make your parents happy

Some other ways to translate the second command are:

give your mother a reason to be glad (NCV)

cause your mother real joy

General Comment on 23:25a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine the parallel lines in order to reduce redundancy. For example:

So you should cause your parents real happiness. They are the ones who gave you life.

23:25a

May your father and mother be glad,

So make your^(sing) father and mother happy.
That is why you should be wise and righteous, because then you will give your father and your mother happiness.

23:25b

and may she who gave you birth rejoice!

Give your^(sing) mother a reason to rejoice.
Then your mother, who gave you birth, will be able to truly rejoice.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

יִֽשְׂמַח־אָבִ֥י⁠ךָ וְ⁠אִמֶּ֑⁠ךָ וְ֝⁠תָגֵ֗ל יֽוֹלַדְתֶּֽ⁠ךָ

glad I_will_show=you(ms) and,mother_of,your and,may_she_rejoice the_[one_of,who]_bore_you

These two phrases mean basically the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the phrases with a word other than and in order to show that the second phrase is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: “May your father and your mother be glad; yes, may she who bore you rejoice”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / declarative

יִֽשְׂמַח־אָבִ֥י⁠ךָ וְ⁠אִמֶּ֑⁠ךָ וְ֝⁠תָגֵ֗ל יֽוֹלַדְתֶּֽ⁠ךָ

glad I_will_show=you(ms) and,mother_of,your and,may_she_rejoice the_[one_of,who]_bore_you

The writer is using an appeal statement to give a command. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate these words using a command form. Alternate translation: “Cause your father and your mother to be glad, and cause she who bore you to rejoice”

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

יִֽשְׂמַח־אָבִ֥י⁠ךָ וְ⁠אִמֶּ֑⁠ךָ

glad I_will_show=you(ms) and,mother_of,your

This verse states the intended result of what came before. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is what should be the result of what came before. Alternate translation: “Therefore, may your father and your mother be glad”

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 23:25

Hebrew word order