PROV 24:19 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 24:19–20 Saying 29

In this saying, the teacher advises the young man not to become emotionally disturbed at the temporary prosperity of wicked people (24:19). The reason is that they will not have a good future (24:20).

24:19

These parallel lines are similar in meaning:

^19aDo not fret over evildoers,

^19band do not be envious of the wicked.

The terms in bold print have the same meaning. Verse 24:19b has the same meaning as 24:1a. See the notes there. The whole verse is almost identical to Psalm 37:1.

24:19a–b

(combined/reordered)

¶ Do not envy wicked/bad people or get angry/upset because of their nice things.

Do not fret…do not be envious: In the OT, the command Do not fret is always associated with envy at the prosperity or success of wicked people.

In some languages, it may be necessary to make explicit that the anger or resentment is caused by the prosperity of the wicked. It is not caused by their evil deeds. For example:

Do not become annoyed when evil people prosper.

Do not envy their success.

24:19a

Do not fret over evildoers,

¶ Do not be irritated/angry because of the wealth/prosperity of evil people.
¶ Do not allow your^(sing) thoughts/feelings to be upset/disturbed by people who do what is evil/wrong.

Do not fret: In Hebrew, the form of the verb that is used here means “to become upset or resentful.” A person who “frets” allows himself to become emotionally agitated or hot with anger.TWOT (#736) and NIDOTTE (H3013) both gloss the Hebrew verb root (ḥarah) as “burn, be kindled.” It always refers to anger. The reflexive verb stem used here (Hithpael) could be literally glossed as “kindle/heat oneself.” It occurs only four times (Psalm 37:1, 7, 8; Proverbs 24:19). Waltke (page 286) comments that the command here does not refer to anger that is directed toward another person. Rather, it is “an internal agitation.” An idiomatic translation of the command would be “Do not get burned up emotionally.” Another way to translate this command is:

Do not get overly upset with evildoers (GW)

Some languages may have idioms that express this kind of emotion.

General Comment on 24:19a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts in these lines. See 24:19a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

24:19b

and do not be envious of the wicked.

You^(sing) should not be envious/jealous of people who are wicked.
Do not strongly desire to have the things that such people enjoy.

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 24:19

Hebrew word order