PROV 24:23 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 24:23–34: Here are more sayings of wise people

The first verse (24:23a) indicates that this section is an additional list of sayings of wise people. This list has been added to the preceding section (22:17–24:22). The sayings range from one to five verses. Each saying will be marked as a separate paragraph in the Notes. As in the English versions, the sayings in this section will not be numbered.

Three of the sayings (24:23b–25, 24:26, and 24:30–34) are general principles. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. See the notes on 10:2 for ways to translate this kind of proverb.

In the other two sayings (24:27 and 24:28–29), the author uses second person commands and pronouns (you^(sing)). Unlike the preceding section, he does not use the phrase “my son” explicitly in these commands.

Some other headings for this section are:

More Wise Sayings (GNT)

More Sayings of the Wise (ESV)

These Are Further Words of Wise People

24:23a

These also are sayings of the wise:

¶ Here are more/other sayings of wise people.
¶ These words are also from wise people:

These also are sayings of the wise: This part of the verse introduces the rest of the sayings in this section. Many versions conclude this statement with a colon followed by a paragraph break, as in the BSB. For example:

The wise have also said these things: (GNT)

Here are some further sayings of the wise: (NLT)

Other versions use a period rather than a colon. Some versions do not start a new paragraph after this verse part. Use an appropriate way in your language to introduce the sayings that follow.

Paragraph 24:23b–25

The first line of this saying (24:23b) criticizes any judge who shows favoritism in a court case. The next two verses indicate that the case involves someone who is guilty. Verse 24:24 describes the reactions of people to a judge who declares the guilty person to be innocent. Verse 24:25 describes the contrasting situation of a judge who does what is right and declares that the guilty person is guilty.

See the General Comment on 24:23b–25 after the note on 24:25 for a way to translate this saying as direct advice. Also see the third meaning line in the Display for each verse part in this saying.

24:23b

To show partiality in judgment is not good.

It is not good/right for a judge to favor one person when he decides a court case.
If a judge agrees with one person in a court case because of who that person is, what he does is bad/wrong.
When you^(sing) judge a case in court, it is wrong to ignore the evidence to benefit the person that is most important to you.

To show partiality in judgment is not good: This statement gives a general principle: it is not right or desirable for a judge to show favoritism when he decides a court case. The phrase not good is a figure of speech (understatement). Its function is to emphasize that it is wrong or bad for a judge to show favoritism. Some other ways to translate this emphasis are:

Keep the figure of speech. For example:
It is not good to take sides when you are the judge. (NCV)
Translate the function without using a figure of speech. For example:
It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment. (NLT)

See the notes on the similar principle in 18:5a.

show partiality: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “recognize the face.” It indicates here that the judge makes a decision based on the people involved in the court case rather than what is fair. For example, he may unfairly favor the accused person because that person is his friend or because he expects to get a bribe. The verse does not specify why the judge shows favoritism.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

גַּם־אֵ֥לֶּה לַֽ⁠חֲכָמִ֑ים

also/yet these [belong]_to,wise_[people]

These here refers to a new collection of proverbs that continues from this verse to the last verse of this chapter. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “The following proverbs are additional sayings of the wise ones”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

הַֽכֵּר־פָּנִ֖ים

to_show_partiality faces

Recognizing faces is an idiom that means “to show partiality” or “to favor” someone. If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly. See how you translated the similar use of “lift the face” in [18:5](../18/05.md). Alternate translation: “Giving pride of place to certain people” or “Being partial to certain people”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

בְּ⁠מִשְׁפָּ֣ט

in,judgment

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of judgment, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “when judging”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes

בַּל־טֽוֹב

not good

See how you translated the same use of not good in [16:29](../16/29.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 24:23

Hebrew word order

Section 24:23–34: Here are more sayings of wise people

24:23a

Paragraph 24:23b–25

24:23b

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