PROV 26:9 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

26:9

The topic of this proverb (26:9b) is identical to 26:7b. The illustration (26:9a) is different.

^9aLike a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard

^9bis a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

The similarity between the topic and the illustration is that both are:

ineffective. When a drunkard swings a thorny branch like a club, it is not an effective weapon. In the same way, a proverb that a fool speaks will not be effective in advising another person.
dangerous or harmful. A thorny branch may injure other people or even the drunkard himself. A proverb that is used incorrectly may also cause harm.
comic or absurd. The sight of a drunkard staggering around with a thorny branch is somewhat comic. It is also absurd to think about a fool using a wise saying.

Most versions leave the similarity implied. If you need to make the similarity explicit in order to understand the comparison, it is suggested that you follow (a).Each of the three similarities is suggested by two or more scholars. Scott, Whybray, Hubbard, and Garrett prefer “ineffective.” Delitzsch, Fox, and Murphy prefer “useless/ineffective as well as harmful.” Waltke, Longman, and Cook prefer “dangerous/harmful.” Toy and McKane prefer “comic/absurd.” According to Garrett (page 212), the similes in 26:6–10 are arranged in the form of a chiasm (A-B-C-B’A’). Both 26:7 and 26:9 have the same topic. In 26:7, “paralyzed legs imply ineffectiveness.” In 26:9, “a thorn in a drunkard’s hand implies lack of response on the hearer’s part.” This is the same similarity as in 26:7. See the note there.

26:9a

Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard

¶ Think about a thornbush that a drunkard swings at people.
¶ What happens when a person who is drunk waves/brandishes a thorny branch?

Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “A thorn/thornbush goes up in the hand of a drunkard.” There are two ways to interpret this phrase:

It refers to a branch from a thornbush that a drunkard lifts up (waves/brandishes) in his hand. For example:
Like a thornbush brandished by the hand of a drunkard (NRSV) (BSB, CEV, NASB95, NIV, NJPS, NLT, NRSV, NJB, REB)The BSB, NASB95 and NJPS are perhaps ambiguous. Like the BSB, the NASB95 has: “Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard.” The NJPS has: “As a thorn comes to the hand of a drunkard.” These translations probably mean that a thorn/thornbush comes into the possession of the drunkard. See Toy and Delitzsch for similar wordings.
It refers to a thorn that goes up into (pierces) the hand of a drunkard. For example:
Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard (RSV) (ESV, GW, KJV, NCV, NET, RSV, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with almost all scholars. The Hebrew verb “goes up” is not used elsewhere with the meaning “pierces.”Waltke (page 338), Fox (page 791), Toy (page 475).

Another way to translate this line is:

A thornbush waved around in the hand of a drunkard (CEV)

into the hand of a drunkard: In some languages it may be more natural to leave the word hand implied. For example:

Like a thorn-stick brandished by a drunkard (REB)

26:9a–b

(combined/reordered)

¶ A proverb that a fool quotes/speaks is like a thorn branch/stick that a drunkard holds.
¶ A wise saying spoken by a fool has the same result as a thornbush in the hand of a person who is drunk.

26:9b

is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

Proverbs that come from the mouth of a fool are similar.
The same thing happens when a fool tells/teaches a wise saying.

is a proverb in the mouth of a fool: See the notes on the identical line in 26:7b.

General Comment on 26:9a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to state the topic before the illustration. For example:

A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk. (NLT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

ח֭וֹחַ עָלָ֣ה בְ⁠יַד־שִׁכּ֑וֹר

thorn goes_up in_[the],hand_of drunkard

This could refer to: (1) a thorn pricking the hand of a drunkard. Alternate translation: “A thorn pricking the hand of a drunkard” (2) a drunkard picking up a thorn bush to swing it at people, in which case the word translated at thorn would refer to a thorn bush. Alternate translation: “A thorn bush waved around in the hand of a drunkard”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

וּ֝⁠מָשָׁ֗ל

and,a_proverb

Solomon is leaving out a word that in many languages a clause would need in order to be complete. You could supply this word from the previous clause if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “and a proverb goes up”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

וּ֝⁠מָשָׁ֗ל

and,a_proverb

Here, and indicates that Solomon is comparing what follows to what he said in the previous clause. Solomon is saying that a proverb in the mouth of stupid ones is like A thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard because it is harmful. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “in the same way a proverb is harmful”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

וּ֝⁠מָשָׁ֗ל בְּ⁠פִ֣י כְסִילִֽים

and,a_proverb in_[the],mouth_of fool

See how you translated this clause in [26:7](../26/07.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 26:9