PROV 4:26 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:20–27: Seventh Lesson: Concentrate on following a righteous lifestyle

This section begins with the typical introduction (4:20–22). The father/teacher then exhorts his son/student to follow a righteous life. He mentions different parts of the body (ear, heart, mouth, eyes, feet) to emphasize that doing what is right involves the whole person (4:23–27).

Another possible heading for this section is:

Always doing what is right

4:26

Verse 4:26a gives a command. Verse 4:26b gives the result of obeying the command. The RSV has been used as the source line for the first line, because it follows the recommended interpretation.

^26aTake heed to the path of your feet, (RSV)

^26band all your ways will be sure.

4:26a

Make a level path for your feet,

Look carefully at the path you^(sing) will follow.
Think/Plan carefully what you will do.

(RSV) Take heed to the path of your feet: There are two ways to interpret the Hebrew verb that is used here. Both are figurative:

“Carefully consider the path of your feet.” The figurative meaning is: Plan carefully what you will do. For example:
Survey the course you take (NJPS) (REB, RSV, NJPS, GNT, CEV, NCV)The GW and NLT express the idea of considering or walking on a straight path. For example, the GW says: “Carefully walk a straight path.” These versions have not been listed under either interpretation because they include aspects of both interpretations.
“Make level/straight the path of your feet.” The figurative meaning is: Remove any obstacles to moral progress as you proceed through life. For example:
Keep straight the path of your feet (NRSV) (BSB, NIV, NRSV, NJB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It fits better with the preceding and following contexts of looking straight ahead and not swerving off the right path.The first interpretation is supported by Waltke, Kidner, Whybray, Scott, McKane, and Cohen. The second interpretation is supported by Fox, Toy, Ross, and Delitzsch.

Other ways to translate this command are:

Keep the figurative idea of a path or a journey. For example:
Carefully consider the path that you will take.
Know where you are headed (CEV)
Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:
Be careful what you do (NCV)

4:26b

and all your ways will be sure.

If you do that, then you^(sing) will stay on solid ground.
Then whatever you do will have a good outcome.

and all your ways will be sure: There are two ways to interpret this line:

This line is a statement that gives the result of obeying the command in the first line. For example:
and your ways will be secure (REB) (BSB, RSV, REB, NJPS, GNT, CEV, GW)
This line is an additional command. For example:
stay on the safe path (NLT) (NIV, NJB, NLT, NCV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This interpretation follows normal Hebrew grammatical patterns.The first interpretation is supported by Fox, Scott, Whybray, McKane, and an NET footnote. See Fox (page 187) and the NET footnote for two grammatical reasons that support this interpretation. The second interpretation is supported by Toy, Waltke, and Delitzsch.

In Hebrew, the verb will be sure is literally “will be firm/stable/established.” This figure of speech refers to walking on solid ground. The nonfigurative meaning is that your actions will have a safe or successful outcome.

Some ways to translate this line are:

Retain the figure of speech. For example:
and you will stay on solid ground (CEV)
State the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
all your ways will prosper (NJPS)
whatever you do will turn out right (GNT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

פַּ֭לֵּס מַעְגַּ֣ל רַגְלֶ֑⁠ךָ

(Some words not found in UHB: keep_straight path_of your_foot_of,your and=all ways_of,your sure )

Here Solomon speaks of being careful how one lives as if someone were making the ground in front of them flat for walking on it. See how you translated the same use of track in [2:9](../02/09.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Be careful how you live] or [Take heed to what you are doing]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

מַעְגַּ֣ל רַגְלֶ֑⁠ךָ

(Some words not found in UHB: keep_straight path_of your_foot_of,your and=all ways_of,your sure )

Here, the word foot represents the whole person who is walking. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [your track]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

וְֽ⁠כָל

and=all

Here, and introduces the result of obeying the command stated in the previous clause. Use the most natural way in your language to indicate result. You may need to start a new sentence. Alternate translation: [If you do this, then all] or [The result will be that all]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

דְּרָכֶ֥י⁠ךָ

(Some words not found in UHB: keep_straight path_of your_foot_of,your and=all ways_of,your sure )

See how you translated the same use of ways in [3:6](../03/06.md).

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יִכֹּֽנוּ

(Some words not found in UHB: keep_straight path_of your_foot_of,your and=all ways_of,your sure )

Here Solomon speaks of person’s life being successful as if that person were walking safely on solid ground. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [will be successful]

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 4:26

Hebrew word order

Section 4:20–27: Seventh Lesson: Concentrate on following a righteous lifestyle

4:26

4:26a

4:26b

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