PROV 29:18 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

29:18

The first line of this proverb describes the disorder that occurs within a group of people if they receive no inspired message from the LORD. In contrast, the second line describes the happiness of a person who obeys what the LORD teaches in his Word.

^18aWhere there is no vision, the people cast off restraint;

^18bbut blessed is he who keeps the Law.

Most English versions follow the BSB clause order for the second line. In Hebrew, the clauses occur in the opposite order. For example:

^18bbut the one who keeps the law, blessed is he (NET)

Use a natural clause order in your language.

29:18a

Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint;

When there is no prophecy/teaching that Yahweh makes known to the people of a nation, they will be disorderly and commit many crimes.
If God does not cause one of his spokesmen/prophets to speak his words to the people, they will not control themselves.

Where there is no vision: There are two main ways to interpret the word vision:

It refers specifically to a vision or prophecy that God reveals or makes known to one of his prophets. For example:
Where there is no prophetic vision (ESV)
Where there is no revelation (NIV) (BSB, ESV, GW, KJV, NAB, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NRSV)
It refers generally to guidance from God. For example:
A nation without God’s guidance (GNT) (CEV, NLT, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions and scholars.Scholars who support this interpretation of ḥazon include Fox, Whybray, Delitzsch, Ross, Hubbard, Cohen, Kidner, Murphy, and McKane. In the OT, God guided his people in various ways, including the Urim and Thummim as well as kings and judges. The Hebrew word used here is more specific. It refers everywhere else to an inspired message, vision, or prophecy that God communicated through one of his spokesmen. These inspired messages sometimes predicted future events and sometimes instructed, rebuked, or warned the people.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Without prophetic vision (GW)

Where there is no word from God (NCV)

If there is nothing that God makes known to his spokesman/prophet

the people cast off restraint: This clause describes the unruly or disorderly behavior that results when a nation or other group of people lacks the authoritative influence of an inspired prophecy. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

people are uncontrolled (NCV)

the people of the country do all kinds of bad things

29:18b

but blessed is he who keeps the Law.

But happy is the person who obeys/follows what Yahweh teaches in his Word.
But those who heed what wise people have taught them are truly happy.

(ESV) but blessed is he who keeps the law: In Hebrew, the word blessed here means “happy.”

the law: In Proverbs, the Hebrew word that the BSB translates here as law refers to the moral advice or teaching of personified wisdom, wise parents, or other wise teachers. In the overall context of Proverbs, it is implied that this teaching is based on the OT Scriptures, so ultimately, it comes from the LORD. However, in this verse, the person who does the teaching is not specified. See the notes on “the law” in 28:4. Also see how you translated “law” (same Hebrew word) in 28:7.

Some ways to translate this clause are:

Leave the source of the teaching implied. For example:
but happy is he who keeps the law (NASB)
but those who obey what they have been taught are happy (NCV)
Make the source of the teaching explicit. For example:
Happy are those who keep God’s law! (GNT)
but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction (NIV11)
But happy is the person who heeds what the LORD teaches in his Word.

Translate in a way that clearly refers to moral advice. This verse does not refer to secular teaching in a school or to the regulations of a local government.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

חָ֭זוֹן

vision

Here, vision refers specifically to information that Yahweh reveals to prophets so that they can tell it to the people. It is also called “prophecy” or “divine revelation”. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [prophecy] or [revelation]

Note 2 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

עָ֑ם

people

See how you translated the same use of people in [11:14](../11/14.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יִפָּ֣רַֽע

(Some words not found in UHB: when,there_[is]_not vision throw_off_restraint people and,[one_who]_keeps law blessed_[is]_he_of,how )

Here Solomon refers to people acting disorderly or uncontrollably, as if they were let loose from being restrained. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [act disorderly] or [are out of control]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

וְ⁠שֹׁמֵ֖ר תּוֹרָ֣ה אַשְׁרֵֽ⁠הוּ

(Some words not found in UHB: when,there_[is]_not vision throw_off_restraint people and,[one_who]_keeps law blessed_[is]_he_of,how )

Here, one keeping and he refer to a type of person in general, not a specific person. If it would be helpful, you could use more natural expressions in your language. Alternate translation: [but any person who keeps the law, happy is that person]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠שֹׁמֵ֖ר תּוֹרָ֣ה

(Some words not found in UHB: when,there_[is]_not vision throw_off_restraint people and,[one_who]_keeps law blessed_[is]_he_of,how )

See how you translated the similar phrase “keep the law” in [28:4](../28/04.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 29:18

Hebrew word order

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

29:18

29:18a

29:18b

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