PROV 4:12 Interlinear View

1. Hebrew word
2. Hebrew lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. Gloss
8. CAPS codes
9. OET tags
10. OET word #
1. בְּ,לֶכְתְּ,ךָ
2. 388351,388352,388353
3. When walk you
4. walk
5. 3212
6. VS-R,Vqc,Sp2ms
7. when,walk,you
8. S
9. Y-1000
10. 270337
1. לֹא
2. 388354
3. not
4. -
5. 3808
6. S-Tn
7. not
8. -
9. Y-1000
10. 270338
2. 388355
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 270339
1. יֵצַר
2. 388356
3. it will be restricted
4. -
5. 3334
6. V-Vqi3ms
7. it_will_be_restricted
8. -
9. Y-1000
10. 270340
1. צַעֲדֶ,ךָ
2. 388357,388358
3. step of your
4. steps
5. 6806
6. S-Ncmsc,Sp2ms
7. step_of,your
8. -
9. Y-1000
10. 270341
1. וְ,אִם
2. 388359,388360
3. and if
4. -
6. S-C,C
7. and=if
8. -
9. Y-1000
10. 270342
2. 388361
3. -
4. -
6. -x-maqqef
8. -
9. -
10. 270343
1. תָּרוּץ
2. 388362
3. you will run
4. run
5. 7323
6. V-Vqi2ms
7. you_will_run
8. -
9. Y-1000
10. 270344
1. לֹא
2. 388363
3. not
4. -
5. 3808
6. S-Tn
7. not
8. -
9. Y-1000
10. 270345
1. תִכָּשֵׁל
2. 388364
3. you will stumble
4. stumble
5. 3782
6. V-VNi2ms
7. you_will_stumble
8. -
9. Y-1000
10. 270346
2. 388365
3. -
4. -
6. -x-sof-pasuq
8. -
9. -
10. 270347

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:10–19: Sixth lesson: Follow wise behavior and avoid the behavior of evil men

In this lesson, the father compares two lifestyles by using the metaphor of two paths. After an opening admonition to listen to his teaching (4:10), he describes the benefits of walking in the way of wisdom (4:11–13). He then describes the way of evil (4:14–17), and concludes by contrasting the two paths (4:18–19). Since the figure of walking on a path is used throughout this lesson, it is recommended that you keep this figurative idea if possible.

Some other headings for this section are:

Stay on the Path of Wisdom (GW)

The Right Way and the Wrong Way (CEV)

4:12

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^12a When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;

^12b when you run, you will not stumble.

4:12a–b

(combined/reordered)

If you^(sing) are wise, nothing will hinder your progress in life. You will be like a person who walks along a path with no obstacles or who runs without stumbling.

When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble: The parallel metaphors of walking without hindrance and running without stumbling refer to the wise person who has correct behavior (4:11). Such a person will make steady progress in life. His progress will not be blocked by obstacles or setbacks. Some ways to translate these metaphors are:

Keep the metaphors, but provide a clue to their meaning. For example:
Nothing will stand in your way if you walk wisely, and you will not stumble when you run. (GNT)
Change the metaphors of walking and running to similes. For example:
You will be like someone whose path is not blocked when he walks. You will be like a person who can run and not stumble.
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
When you decide to do something, you will succeed.

4:12a

When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;

When you^(sing) walk along that straight path, no one will block you.

4:12b

when you run, you will not stumble.

When you^(sing) run, you will not stumble.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

בְּֽ֭⁠לֶכְתְּ⁠ךָ לֹא־יֵצַ֣ר צַעֲדֶ֑⁠ךָ וְ⁠אִם־תָּ֝ר֗וּץ לֹ֣א תִכָּשֵֽׁל

when,walk,you not hampered step_of,your and=if run not stumble

These two phrases mean basically the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the phrases with a word other than and in order to show that the second phrase is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: “When you walk, your step will not be restricted; yes, if you run, you will not stumble”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בְּֽ֭⁠לֶכְתְּ⁠ךָ לֹא־יֵצַ֣ר צַעֲדֶ֑⁠ךָ וְ⁠אִם־תָּ֝ר֗וּץ לֹ֣א תִכָּשֵֽׁל

when,walk,you not hampered step_of,your and=if run not stumble

In this verse, Solomon refers to what people do as if they were walking or running along paths, and he refers to their success in what they do as if the paths were free of obstacles that might make the person stumble. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “When you do something, you will not be hindered; and if you attempt big things, you will not fail”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes

לֹא־יֵצַ֣ר & לֹ֣א תִכָּשֵֽׁל

not hampered & not stumble

Solomon is using a figure of speech in these two phrases that expresses a strongly positive meaning by using a negative word, not, together with an expression that is the opposite of the intended meaning. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the positive meaning. Alternate translation: “will be free … you will keep going”

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

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Hebrew word
5. Hebrew lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. Gloss
8. CAPS codes
9. OET tags
10. OET word #
1. When walk you
2. walk
3. 846,1984,1978
5. 388351,388352,388353
6. VS-R,Vqc,Sp2ms
8. S
9. Y-1000
10. 270337
1. not
2. -
3. 3835
5. 388354
6. S-Tn
8. -
9. Y-1000
10. 270338
1. step of your
2. steps
3. 6621,1978
5. 388357,388358
6. S-Ncmsc,Sp2ms
8. -
9. Y-1000
10. 270341
1. it will be restricted
2. -
3. 6739
5. 388356
6. V-Vqi3ms
8. -
9. Y-1000
10. 270340
1. and if
2. -
3. 1987,280
5. 388359,388360
6. S-C,C
8. -
9. Y-1000
10. 270342
1. you will run
2. run
3. 7394
5. 388362
6. V-Vqi2ms
8. -
9. Y-1000
10. 270344
1. not
2. -
3. 3835
5. 388363
6. S-Tn
8. -
9. Y-1000
10. 270345
1. you will stumble
2. stumble
3. 3656
5. 388364
6. V-VNi2ms
8. -
9. Y-1000
10. 270346

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.