OET interlinear PROV 28:28

28:28

This proverb contrasts what happens to the people of a town or country (parts in bold print) when wicked rulers gain or lose control of the government (underlined parts).

^28a When the wicked come to power, people hide themselves;

^28bbut when they perish, the righteous flourish.

28:28a

When the wicked come to power, people hide themselves: The meaning of this line is identical to 28:12b, except that 28:12b is the second line of a contrast. See how you translated that line.

28:28b

but when they perish: This clause refers back to the wicked people who gained control of the government (28:28a). When these wicked rulers die or are destroyed, the implied result is that they are no longer in control. There are two ways to interpret this clause:

1. It means that wicked rulers perish/die or are killed/destroyed. For example:

   When they die (GW) (BSB, ESV, GW, KJV, NASB, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NRSV, REB)

2. It means that wicked rulers lose control of the government. It does not imply that they die. For example:

   But when they fall from power (GNT) (CEV, NAB, GNT)The NAB has “at their fall.” That phrase could easily imply their death, but with the parallelism, it more likely refers to a fall from power.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions and scholars. Elsewhere in the OT where it refers to individuals or groups of people, the verb “perish” means that they die, lose their lives, or are destroyed.In a few verses, “perish” refers to an abstract concept such as hope. In those verses it means that hope ceases to exist. There are no verses where “perish” refers to a person who loses his position as ruler and is still alive. In the three other verses in Proverbs where it occurs, it also refers to physical death.In Proverbs 19:9 and 21:25, it refers to the punishment given to false witnesses (death). In 31:6, beer is recommended for people who are “perishing” (dying).

the righteous flourish: There are at least three ways to interpret this phrase:

1. The righteous increase in number. For example:

   the upright multiply (NJB) (CEV, ESV, GW, NASB, NET, NJB, NJPS, NLT96, NRSV)The ESV, GW, NASB, NET, NJPS, and NRSV have only the word “increase.” The Notes have interpreted these versions to mean “increase in number,” because that is the normal English meaning without some qualification such as “increase in prosperity” or “increase in power.”

2. The righteous increase in influence and power. For example:

   the righteous will rule again (GNT) (REB, GNT)

3. The righteous increase in prosperity. For example:

   good people do well (NCV) (BSB, NAB, NCV, NIV, NLT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions. However, interpretation (2) is also acceptable. The contrast with “the wicked rise to power” in 28:28a strongly implies that the righteous increase in influence and power as well as in number. If there is a word or phrase in your language that includes both of these ideas, it would be very acceptable to use it here.Waltke (p. 429) says that the word “flourish” (yirbu) here means “increase and become powerful.” He also says that these two meanings also occur in 29:2 and 29:16. Hubbard (p. 442) agrees that an increase in numbers results in a corresponding increase in influence. Murphy (p. 217) also mentions “positions of some power” along with coming out into the open and prospering. For example:

righteous people become many and their power increases

Another option is to add a footnote to help your readers understand the implied meaning. A suggested footnote is:

This verse implies that when the number of righteous people increases, their power also increases. See Proverbs 29:2 and 29:16. These verses are also about people who increase in number and power.

Some other ways to translate this line are:

but when they perish, the upright multiply (NJB)

When they die, righteous people increase. (GW)