PROV 29:25 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

29:25

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^25a The fear of man is a snare,

^25bbut whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.

When a person is afraid of what other people will think or do, there are dangerous consequences (first line). By contrast, a person who trusts in the LORD will be protected from danger (second line).

29:25a

The fear of man is a snare,

A person who fears his fellowmen will be caught in a dangerous snare/trap,
If you^(sing) are afraid of other people, you are in great danger. You are like a bird that is caught in a net/snare.
If a person fears what other people will think or do, his situation is dangerous.

The fear of man: This phrase means that a person is afraid of other people. He may fear their opposition, criticism, or any other undesirable thing that they think or do.

is a snare: This phrase is literally “gives [that is, ‘sets’] a snare.” A snare is a net or trap for catching birds or animals. The same Hebrew word was used in 29:6a, where the BSB translates it as “caught.”

This clause is a metaphor. In this metaphor, a person who is afraid of other people is compared to a bird or animal that gets caught in a snare. The similarity is that there are dangerous consequences for both the person and the bird or animal.

Some ways to translate this metaphor are:

Keep the metaphor. You may supply some of the implied information if it will help to make the meaning clear. For example:
Fearing people is a dangerous trap (NLT)
Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
If you are afraid of other people, you are like an animal that gets caught in a trap.
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
Being afraid of people can get you into trouble (NCV)

29:25b

but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.

but the person who trusts Yahweh to protect him remains safe.
But if you^(sing) rely on Yahweh to protect you, you have no reason to worry.
If he has trust in Yahweh, he does not need to fear, because Yahweh protects him.

but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high: In Hebrew, the phrase that the BSB translates as is set securely on high is literally “is set on high.” This phrase implies that the person who relies on the LORD to protect him is in a high place that is safe from danger.UBS (p. 615), Waltke (p. 452), Cohen (p. 199), NET footnote (d). Some other ways to translate this line are:

but if you trust the Lord, you are safe (GNT)

but as for a person who relies on the LORD to protect him, no danger can reach him

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

חֶרְדַּ֣ת

fear_of

See how you translated the abstract noun anxiety in [15:16](../15/16.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

אָ֭דָם & וּ⁠בוֹטֵ֖חַ

humankind & and,[one_who]_trusts

Here, a man and one who trusts refer to types of people in general, not specific people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “any person … but any person who trusts”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

יִתֵּ֣ן מוֹקֵ֑שׁ

he/it_gave snare

Here Solomon speaks of someone causing trouble for himself as if his anxiety were a person who sets a snare that traps him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: “causes him to get into trouble” or “is like someone who sets a trap”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

יְשֻׂגָּֽב

secure

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “he will set him on high”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יְשֻׂגָּֽב

secure

See how you translated the same use of set on high in [18:10](../18/10.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 29:25

Hebrew word order

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

29:25

29:25a

29:25b

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