PROV 25:10 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 25:1–29:27: This is Hezekiah’s collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the second collection of Solomon’s proverbs. These proverbs were organized and copied by men who served King Hezekiah. Most scholars divide this section into two groups. These groups differ in several ways.

The first group (chapters 25–27) has many more comparisons and admonitions. In Hebrew, most of these comparisons are metaphors in which one or more illustrations precede the topic. Some English versions change the order so that the topic precedes the illustration(s). You should follow the order that expresses the meaning naturally and effectively in your language.

In the first group, many proverbs are one verse long. As with the individual proverbs in the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs (Section 10:1–22:16), they are not related to the proverbs around them. Other proverbs in this group are two or more verses long. Still others are one-verse proverbs that are closely related in theme. Proverbs in all three categories will be marked as separate paragraphs.

The second group (chapters 28–29) has more contrastive proverbs. The proverbs in this group are each one verse long. They will not be marked as separate paragraphs.

Some other headings for this section are:

More Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

Proverbs of Solomon Collected by Hezekiah (NET)

These are also wise things that Solomon said

Paragraph 25:9–10

The context of this proverb is a disagreement with another person. The proverb is a warning about the danger of revealing confidential information.

25:10

In this verse, the second line intensifies the idea of the first line. It describes the shame as permanent.

^10alest the one who hears may disgrace you,

^10band your infamy never go away.

25:10a

lest the one who hears may disgrace you,

Otherwise, they may rebuke you^(sing) for gossiping, and you will be shamed.
If others find out that you^(sing) have told a secret, your name/reputation will be ruined,

lest: The Hebrew word that the BSB literally translates as lest introduces the bad result of ignoring the preceding command. This bad result also serves as a motivation to obey the command.

This connection can be translated in different ways. Some versions leave the connection implied. Other versions introduce these relationships with a word such as “or” (NIV) or “Otherwise” (GW).

the one who hears: The person, the one who hears, may be:

the “neighbor” who was involved in the argument
the person to whom you told the private information
anyone else who hears that you said things that you should have kept secret.

If possible, translate in a way that can refer to any of the above options. For example:

Otherwise everyone will learn that you can’t keep a secret (GNT)

Others will find out (CEV)

may disgrace you: This phrase implies that the hearer or hearers will publicly rebuke you. As a result, you will be humiliated or shamed. In some languages, it may be necessary to make the nature of the rebuke more explicit. For example:

Others may accuse you of gossip (NLT)

The NLT does not mention “shame” explicitly, but it is implied by the next clause. See the NLT quote in 25:10b. This may be a good option in some languages.

25:10b

and your infamy never go away.

From then on, you^(sing) will always have a bad name/reputation.
and people will always say/think that you are a bad/unreliable person.

and your infamy never go away: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “and the slander against you will not return.” It means that the bad news that you are an unreliable gossip will continue to spread. Your reputation will be ruined. From then on, you will continue to have a bad reputation. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

and his evil report about you will never disappear (GW)

and you will never regain your good reputation (NLT)

and you might not ever be respected again (NCV)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

פֶּֽן

Here, lest indicates that what follows is the result of doing what Solomon prohibited in the previous verse. See how you translated the same use of lest in [24:18](../24/18.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

שֹׁמֵ֑עַ

hears

Here, one who hears represents a type of person in general, not one particular person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a more natural expression. Alternate translation: “anyone hears”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

וְ֝⁠דִבָּתְ⁠ךָ֗

and,your_bad_of,report

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of rumor, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “and what is rumored about you”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

לֹ֣א תָשֽׁוּב

not end

Here Solomon speaks of a rumor, meaning the news that a secret has been betrayed, as if it were a person who could turn back and report this news to the betrayed person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “gets back to him”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes

לֹ֣א תָשֽׁוּב

not end

Solomon is using a figure of speech here that expresses a strongly positive meaning by using a negative word, not, together with an expression that is the opposite of the intended meaning. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the positive meaning. Alternate translation: “will keep going” or “will continue to spread”

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.