PROV 2:7 Interlinear View

2:7 OSHB variant note: ו/צפן: (x-qere) ’יִצְפֹּ֣ן’: lemma_6845 morph_HVqi3ms id_20GpK יִצְפֹּ֣ן

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–22: Second lesson: Wisdom will spare you from the dangers of crime and adultery

Here is a summary of the advice in this section: If you accept what I teach and seek to become wise (2:1–4), you will indeed become wise, and because of your wisdom, you will know how to revere the LORD and how to do what is right. You will also be protected (2:5–11). Wisdom will protect you from wicked men (2:12–15) and from adulterous women (2:16–19). Consequently, you will follow a righteous lifestyle and enjoy a long life in your own land, but the wicked will be forced to leave their land (2:20–22).

Some other headings for this section are:

The Benefits of Wisdom (NLT)

The Rewards of Wisdom (GNT)

The rewards/benefits that wisdom gives to people

Paragraph 2:5–8

This paragraph introduces some of the results that come from fulfilling the conditions of 2:1–4. See the note on Paragraph 2:1–4 for ways to introduce 2:5.

2:7

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^7a He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

^7bH He is a shield to those who walk with integrity,

2:7a

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

He stores up resourcefulness/competence and success to give to those who obey him.

He stores up: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as He stores up indicates that the LORD figuratively sets something aside for the upright. Some ways to translate this word are:

reserves (NJB)

holds…in store (NIV)

Some English versions imply that there is something available for the LORD to give, but do not explicitly express the meaning of “stores up.” For example:

provides (GNT)

gives (CEV)

This may be a good option in some languages.

sound wisdom: The Hebrew word tušiyyah, which the BSB translates here as sound wisdom, includes two ideas:

resourcefulness, competence, good sense, ability to plan what to do
the success or victory that results from this resourcefulness

In the context of the parallel word “shield,” sense (b) of this Hebrew word is appropriate. However, most English versions focus on sense (a). See also 8:14a, where the BSB translates the same word as “sound judgment.” “Sound judgment” is a good parallel to “shield,” because the LORD’s gift of sound judgment protects people who are upright/blameless.

In some languages, it may be possible to use two separate terms to cover both aspects of meaning.Scholars who prefer sense (a) include Whybray and Fox. Whybray (page 52) suggests the meaning “practical ability.” Fox (page 114) says that the word refers to clear thinking and good decisions that help a person to escape from difficult situations or to carry out a plan of activity. Scholars who favor sense (b) include Garrett, Toy, and Delitzsch. Garrett (page 75) suggests “success” as a good translation. Delitzsch (page 78) focuses on true prosperity. Kidner (page 61) mentions both the quality and the outcome of “sound sense.” For example:

resourcefulness and success

See sound judgment in the Glossary.

for the upright: The term the upright refers to those whose conduct is right and just and straightforward. Some ways to translate this word are:

righteous (GNT)

everyone who obeys him (CEV)

2:7a–b

(combined/reordered)

He helps all those who are righteous and blameless to be able to make good plans and to be successful, and he protects them.

2:7b

He is a shield to those who walk with integrity,

He is like a shield that protects all those who consistently do what is right.

those who walk with integrity: The word walk is an idiom that refers to a person’s customary conduct. The Hebrew noun that the BSB translates as integrity has the underlying meaning of completeness or perfection. It refers to consistent, flawless, moral goodness.

General Comment on 2:7a–b

The parallel terms “upright” and “those who walk with integrity” refer to the same group of people. The NLT96 makes this clear by using the pronoun “their” in 2:7b:

^7aHe grants a treasure of good sense to the godly. (NLT96)

^7bHe is their shield, protecting those who walk with integrity. (NLT96)

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder these terms. For example:

He is a constant source of good judgment for those who consistently do what is right. He is like a shield that protects them.

The above translation also changes the metaphor “He is a shield” into a simile and makes explicit the way in which he is similar to a shield. This may be a good option for languages which do not use metaphors.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ו⁠צפן לַ֭⁠יְשָׁרִים תּוּשִׁיָּ֑ה

and, for_(the),[people] sound_wisdom

Yahweh possessing sound wisdom that he gives to people is spoken of as if sound wisdom were an item that Yahweh stores up. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “And he has sound wisdom to provide for the upright ones”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

תּוּשִׁיָּ֑ה

sound_wisdom

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of sound wisdom, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “soundly wise things”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

מָ֝גֵ֗ן לְ⁠הֹ֣לְכֵי תֹֽם

shield for,[those_who]_walk_of integrity

Yahweh protecting his people is spoken of as if he were a shield. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “he shields those walking with integrity”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לְ⁠הֹ֣לְכֵי תֹֽם

for,[those_who]_walk_of integrity

Here, walking refers to how people behave. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “who conduct themselves with integrity”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

תֹֽם

integrity

See how you translated the abstract noun integrity in [1:3](../01/03.md).

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

2:7 OSHB variant note: ו/צפן: (x-qere) ’יִצְפֹּ֣ן’: lemma_6845 morph_HVqi3ms id_20GpK יִצְפֹּ֣ן

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 2:7

Hebrew word order