PROV 24:20 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 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).

24:20

The first line states what the evil person will not experience. The second line uses a figure of speech to explain what he will experience instead.

^20aFor the evil man has no future;

^20bthe lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

In Hebrew, the first underlined phrase is singular. The second underlined phrase is plural. As in similar verses, you may use either singular or plural in either line.

24:20a

For the evil man has no future;

For an evil person will not have a good life in the future.
For the lives of people who do what is wrong will not have a good outcome/end.

For the evil man has no future: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “for a future does not belong to the evil person.” It implies that evil people will not have a good end or outcome to their lives. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

An evil person has nothing to hope for (NCV)

Evil people will not have a good end to their lives.

See the note on 23:18a, where the positive equivalent (“surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off”) occurs.

24:20a–b

(combined/reordered)

There will be no good outcome/future for people like that. They are like a lamp that suddenly goes out.

24:20b

the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

The life of a wicked person is like a lamp that will soon be extinguished.
Indeed, wicked/bad people will die early. They will be like a lamp that suddenly stops burning/shining.

the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished: This clause is a metaphor. It compares the life of wicked people to a lamp that is “extinguished” or “put out.” It means that their temporary prosperity will soon be gone. They will experience hardship, ruin, and premature death.

This clause is identical to 13:9b. See the notes there for translation advice. You may need to translate this clause differently, because the preceding context is not the same.

General Comment on 24:20a–b

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

They will soon be gone like the flame of a lamp that burns out. (CEV)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

כִּ֤י

that/for/because/then/when

For here indicates that what follows is a reason for the commands in the previous verse. Use a connector in your language that makes it clear that what follows is a reason for what came before. Alternate translation: “Do not do these things because”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

אַחֲרִ֣ית

future

Here, the writer refers to a future that is good. See how you translated the same use of future in [23:18](../23/18.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

לָ⁠רָ֑ע

to,[person]

See how you translated an evil one in [17:11](../17/11.md).

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

נֵ֖ר רְשָׁעִ֣ים יִדְעָֽךְ

lamp_of wicked put_out

See how you translated the same clause in [13:9](../13/09.md).

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 24:20

Hebrew word order