PROV 8:19 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 8:1–36: Wisdom calls out to people and reminds them of the benefits of being wise

In contrast to the previous section describing the adulterous woman, this section describes personified Wisdom. The public setting for Wisdom’s speech is described in 8:1–3. In 8:4–11, she addresses all mankind and describes her own character. In 8:12–21, she provides reasons why people should choose her. Additional motivation is given in 8:22–31: Wisdom was with the LORD when he created the world. The section ends with Wisdom appealing to mankind to follow her teaching (8:32–36).

This section is a speech by personified Wisdom. As in Wisdom’s speech in 1:20–33, the Notes have used a capital letter for Wisdom in most verses. However, in her speech, Wisdom sometimes refers to “wisdom” as an ability that people have or use or should try to obtain. In some of these contexts, the Notes have used small letters for “wisdom.” The Display will often give more than one option. You may use either option in your language, depending on what is appropriate in each context.

Some other headings for this section are:

Wisdom’s Call (NIV)

Listen to Wisdom (NCV)

The good qualities of Wisdom

Wisdom’s second invitation to people

Paragraph 8:12–21

After again identifying herself and the qualities that she is associated with (12–13), Wisdom describes why people should choose her. They should choose her because she is the basis of an orderly society (14–16). She is also the source of wealth and other benefits to those who seek and find her (17–21).

8:19

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^19a My fruit is better than gold, pure gold,

^19b and my harvest surpasses choice silver.

8:19a–b

(combined/reordered)

What you receive from me is more valuable than even the finest gold or the purest silver. (CEV)

My fruit is better than…my harvest surpasses: In this verse, the benefits that wisdom gives or produces are described using the agricultural terms fruit and harvest. Literally, fruit is the produce of a fruit tree or vine, and harvest refers to any crop, including grain and fruit. Here they refer figuratively to the result of having wisdom. What wisdom gives is better or more valuable than gold or silver. The verb surpasses is supplied by the BSB. In Hebrew, the comparative phrase better than applies to both “my fruit” and “my yield.”

In some languages, it may be clearer to use nonfigurative language. For example:

What I give is better than the finest gold (NCV)

What you receive from me is more valuable than even the finest gold (CEV)

gold, pure gold…choice silver: The phrase that the BSB translates as gold, pure gold is literally “gold even fine-gold.” The two synonyms function together to mean “very fine gold,” so a number of English versions, including the NIV, have combined them into one phrase. For the word choice, see 8:10b, where it describes gold.

General Comment on 8:19a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel lines. See the Display for 8:19a–b (combined/reordered).

8:19a

My fruit is better than gold, pure gold,

The fruit that I produce is far better than pure gold.
What I give is more valuable than the finest gold.

8:19b

and my harvest surpasses choice silver.

What people harvest from me is more valuable than expensive silver.
If a person has me, the result is far better than having the purest silver.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ט֣וֹב פִּ֭רְיִ⁠י & וּ֝⁠תְבוּאָתִ֗⁠י

good fruit_of,my & and,gain_of,my

Here, fruit and produce refer to the benefits that a person receives from having wisdom. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “My benefits are better … they are better” or “The benefits I can give you are better … yes, they are more”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

מֵ⁠חָר֣וּץ וּ⁠מִ⁠פָּ֑ז

more,than_gold and,more,than_pure_gold

The terms gold and refined gold mean similar things. Wisdom is using them together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: “than the finest gold”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

מִ⁠כֶּ֥סֶף נִבְחָֽר

more,than_silver choice

Wisdom is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a clause would need in order to be complete. You could supply these words from earlier in the sentence if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “is better than choice silver”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

מִ⁠כֶּ֥סֶף נִבְחָֽר

more,than_silver choice

Here, choice silver refers to silver that is the best quality. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “than the best silver”

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 8:19

Hebrew word order