PROV 23:5 Interlinear View

23:5 OSHB variant note: ה/תעוף: (x-qere) ’הֲ/תָ֤עִיף’: lemma_i/5774 a morph_HTi/Vhi2ms id_20Tsm הֲ/תָ֤עִיף

23:5 OSHB variant note: ו/עיף: (x-qere) ’יָע֥וּף’: lemma_5774 a morph_HVqi3ms id_2017A יָע֥וּף

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.

23:5

This verse gives a reason for the parallel warnings in 23:4. The overall reason is that riches can quickly disappear. Both lines contain figures of speech. In Hebrew, they both use terms that are associated with a bird that flies.

^5aWhen you glance at wealth, it disappears,

^5bfor it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

23:5a

When you glance at wealth, it disappears,

If you^(sing) even look at wealth, it can disappear almost immediately,
because your money can be used up before you blink.

When you glance at wealth, it disappears: In Hebrew, this line is literally “Do your eyes fly to/on it and it does not exist.” The first part is a rhetorical question that is probably equivalent to an “if” clause. It is followed by a consequence in the last part.Waltke (page 241), Fox (page 724), and Whybray (page 332) all identify the rhetorical question in the first line as equivalent to a conditional clause. Waltke identifies the last line as a consequence.

When you glance at wealth: In Hebrew this clause contains at least two other figures of speech. The phrase “your eyes” represents the action of looking or glancing (metonymy). This phrase is also part of a metaphor in Hebrew: “your eyes fly to/on it.” It compares the young man’s eyes to a bird that flies swiftly to wealth (23:5a). Some ways to translate these figures of speech are:

Keep the figurative ideas of flying or landing. For example:
When your eyes light upon it (NRSV)
While your glance flits to it (NAB)
Translate the idea of looking or glancing without using a figure of speech. For example:
Before you can look around (REB)
Use a different figure of speech in your language. Some versions have used common English idioms. For example:
In the blink of an eye (NLT)
in a flash (GNT)

it disappears: When his eyes fly there or land there, the wealth disappears. More literally, “it ceases to exist” or “it is there no longer” (NJB). This clause is a figure of speech (hyperbole). It means that wealth can very quickly disappear or be used up. Another way to translate this clause using a hyperbole is:

wealth disappears (NLT)

When you translate 23:5a, remember that the author used figures of speech to make a vivid picture in the minds of his readers. Try to use expressions in your language that will help your readers understand and remember the meaning of the proverb.

General Comment on 23:5a

In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder and/or combine the clauses in this part of the verse. For example:

Your money flies away before you know it (CEV)

Wealth can vanish in the wink of an eye (NCV)

23:5b

for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

because it is as if it grows/sprouts wings and flies into the sky like an eagle.
It is like a bird that suddenly takes off and flies away.

for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky: This clause uses a complex figure of speech to explain how riches can disappear so quickly. In some languages, it will be necessary to make explicit that both parts of the clause make a comparison. For example:

as if it had grown wings and flown away like an eagle (GNT)

makes wings: In Hebrew, this phrase is an emphatic form of the verb “make.” It may emphasize that riches certainly make wings for themselves or that they make them suddenly. For example:

For wealth certainly makes itself wings (NASB)

for suddenly it sprouts wings (ESV)

Some versions do not make this verb explicitly emphatic. In some languages, it may already be implied from the context. For example:

It can seem to grow wings and fly away like an eagle. (NCV)

eagle: In Hebrew, this word can also refer to a vulture. In this context, most English versions translate it as eagle. In languages where eagles or vultures are not known, you may use a more general word, such as “bird.”

to the sky: Notice that the GNT and the NCV (both quoted above) leave the phrase to the sky implied. The BSB translates it explicitly. Use whichever option expresses the meaning most effectively and naturally in your language.

General Comment on 23:5b

Both parts of 23:5b help to explain the surprising statement in 23:4b that the riches “disappear.” The second part of 23:5b also helps to explain the metaphor of wealth that grows wings for itself.

In the BSB, this double explanation is introduced by the word “for.” In some languages, it may be natural to introduce an explanation with an explicit word, as in the BSB. For example:

for they surely make wings for themselves, and fly off into the sky like an eagle! (NET)

In other languages, it may be more natural to introduce an explanation without using an explicit word. For example:

It can seem to grow wings and fly away like an eagle. (NCV)

It will surely grow wings like an eagle, like a bird in the sky. (REB)

You should introduce this explanation in a way that is both natural and emphatic in your language.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

הֲתָ֤עִיף עֵינֶ֥י⁠ךָ בּ֗⁠וֹ וְֽ⁠אֵ֫ינֶ֥⁠נּוּ

(Some words not found in UHB: do,you_cause_to_fly? eyes_of,your in/on/over=him/it and=not_existing=he that/for/because/then/when to_sprout he/it_made/did for=him/it wings like,an_eagle and, the=heavens )

The writer is using the question form to emphasize how easily wealth is lost. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “You will surely cause your eyes to fly to it, but it will not be there!”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

הֲתָ֤עִיף עֵינֶ֥י⁠ךָ בּ֗⁠וֹ

Here, the writer speaks of someone looking at riches as if his eyes were a bird that could fly to the riches. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Will you look at it”

Note 3 topic: writing-pronouns

בּ֗⁠וֹ וְֽ⁠אֵ֫ינֶ֥⁠נּוּ & יַעֲשֶׂה־לּ֣⁠וֹ & יָע֥וּף

in/on/over=him/it and=not_existing=he & he/it_made/did for=him/it & (Some words not found in UHB: do,you_cause_to_fly? eyes_of,your in/on/over=him/it and=not_existing=he that/for/because/then/when to_sprout he/it_made/did for=him/it wings like,an_eagle and, the=heavens )

In this verse, it and itself refers to the riches mentioned in the previous verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “to the riches, but they are not there … those riches will make … for themselves … those riches will fly into”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וְֽ⁠אֵ֫ינֶ֥⁠נּוּ

and=not_existing=he

The writer implies that a person loses his wealth as soon as he sees it. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “but it is lost”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / reduplication

עָשֹׂ֣ה יַעֲשֶׂה

to_sprout he/it_made/did

The writer is repeating the verb make in order to intensify the idea that it expresses. If your language can repeat words for intensification, it would be appropriate to do that here in your translation. If not, your language may have another way of expressing the emphasis. Alternate translation: “it will surely make”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

עָשֹׂ֣ה יַעֲשֶׂה־לּ֣⁠וֹ כְנָפַ֑יִם כְּ֝⁠נֶ֗שֶׁר יָע֥וּף הַ⁠שָּׁמָֽיִם

to_sprout he/it_made/did for=him/it wings like,an_eagle (Some words not found in UHB: do,you_cause_to_fly? eyes_of,your in/on/over=him/it and=not_existing=he that/for/because/then/when to_sprout he/it_made/did for=him/it wings like,an_eagle and, the=heavens )

Here, the writer speaks of a person quickly losing his wealth as if that wealth made wings for itself and flew away into the sky like an eagle. Just as eagles fly fast, the wealth will disappear quickly. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: “it will surely disappear quickly” or “it will surely disappear as if it had wings and flew away quickly, as an eagle flies into the sky”

Note 7 topic: translate-unknown

כְּ֝⁠נֶ֗שֶׁר

like,an_eagle

An eagle is a bird that can fly fast. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of bird, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: “like a quick bird”

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

23:5 OSHB variant note: ה/תעוף: (x-qere) ’הֲ/תָ֤עִיף’: lemma_i/5774 a morph_HTi/Vhi2ms id_20Tsm הֲ/תָ֤עִיף

23:5 OSHB variant note: ו/עיף: (x-qere) ’יָע֥וּף’: lemma_5774 a morph_HVqi3ms id_2017A יָע֥וּף

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 23:5