PROV 24:17 Interlinear View

24:17 OSHB variant note: אויבי/ך: (x-qere) ’אֽ֭וֹיִבְ/ךָ’: lemma_341 n_1.0 morph_HVqrmsc/Sp2ms id_20UXx אֽ֭וֹיִבְ/ךָ

24:17 OSHB note: Yathir readings in L which we have designated as Qeres when both Dothan and BHS list a Qere.

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 24:17–18 Saying 28

In this saying, the author advises the young man not to rejoice when an enemy suffers disaster. If he rejoices, The LORD will be angry at his attitude and will stop punishing the enemy.

This saying is related to the previous saying by the parallel verbs that refer to disaster.

24:17

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning. In the NIV, they form a chiasm. The parts in 24:17b occur in the opposite order from the parallel parts in 24:17a.

^17a Do not gloat when your enemy falls;

^17b when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice

In Hebrew and in the BSB, there is no chiasm. The underlined parallel parts occur first in each line. For example:

^17a If your enemy falls, do not exult;

^17b if he trips, let not your heart rejoice, (NJPS)

In the NRSV, there is also no chiasm, but the underlined parallel parts occur first in each line:

^17a Do not rejoice when your enemies fall,

^17band do not let your heart be glad when they stumble. (NRSV)

You should use whatever order expresses the meaning of the parallel lines most effectively in your language.

24:17a–b

(combined/reordered)

¶ When something happens that ruins the life of your^(sing) enemy, do not be delighted.

Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice: In Hebrew, these two commands have almost the same meaning. The first command can also be translated as “rejoice” (NRSV).TWOT (#2268) glosses this verb as “rejoice.” It says that the root “denotes being glad or joyful with the whole disposition.” Another way to translate these two commands is:

Do not be happy…do not feel glad (GW)

The second command is a figure of speech. In this figure of speech, the heart represents the whole person. It refers to his thoughts and feelings of delight. It also includes the way he shows his feelings through his facial expressions, words, or actions.Fox (page 750) says that the second command “speaks explicitly of inner joy.” But Waltke (page 279) translates this command as: “do not let your heart shout in exultation.” It seems likely that an inner “shout” would also involve outward expressions of joy. According to TWOT (#346), the meaning of the root word fits better with “vigorous, enthusiastic expressions of joy,” but in poetry and prophecy, it indicates “various kinds of joy.”

If possible, choose parallel terms that will refer together to different kinds of joy, whether feelings, words, or actions.

when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles: In Hebrew, the words falls and stumbles are the same as the terms “fall” (24:16a) and “stumble” (24:16b). See the notes there. The parallel clauses both indicate that the enemy experiences a disaster that ruins his life.

In some languages, it will be appropriate to repeat the same terms here as in 24:16. In other languages, it will sound redundant. Choose terms that will show the connection to verse 16 without sounding redundant.

enemy…he: These parallel terms refer to one or more people who are in the category of “enemy.” The NRSV (quoted above) uses “enemies…they.” You may use either singular or plural.This is actually a textual issue. The form that is written in the MT (Kethib) is plural. The reading/pronunciation recommended by the Masoretes (Qere) is singular. The Notes have not discussed this as a textual issue, because most translators will make a choice based on naturalness regardless of the textual choice.

General Comment on 24:17a–b

In some languages, it will be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. For example:

Don’t be happy to see your enemies trip and fall down. (CEV)

24:17a

Do not gloat when your enemy falls,

¶ Do not be happy when your^(sing) enemy trips and falls.
¶ When your enemies experience trouble/disaster, do not rejoice.

24:17b

and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,

When he sprawls on the ground, do not rejoice.
When something terrible happens to them, you^(sing) should not feel glad.

uW Translation Notes:

[24:17](../24/17.md)–[18](../24/18.md) is Saying 28 of the 30 “words of the wise ones.”

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

בִּ⁠נְפֹ֣ל אֽ֭וֹיִבְךָ אַל־תִּשְׂמָ֑ח וּ֝⁠בִ⁠כָּשְׁל֗⁠וֹ אַל־יָגֵ֥ל לִבֶּֽ⁠ךָ

when,falls (Some words not found in UHB: when,falls enemy_of,your not rejoice and,when,stumbles,he not glad heart_of,your )

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: “When your enemy falls, do not be glad; yes, when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בִּ⁠נְפֹ֣ל אֽ֭וֹיִבְךָ & וּ֝⁠בִ⁠כָּשְׁל֗⁠וֹ

when,falls (Some words not found in UHB: when,falls enemy_of,your not rejoice and,when,stumbles,he not glad heart_of,your )

Here, falls and stumbles both refer to experiencing disaster. See how you translated the same use of falls and “stumble” in the previous verse.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

לִבֶּֽ⁠ךָ

heart_of,your

Here, heart refers to the whole person. See how you translated the same use of heart in [14:10](../14/10.md).

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