PROV 8:33 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 8:32–36

This paragraph concludes Wisdom’s speech with a final appeal that people follow her teaching. If they do, they will be blessed with life and with the LORD’s favor. If they refuse, the result will be harm and death.

8:33

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^33a Listen to instruction and be wise;

^33b do not ignore it.

8:33a–b

(combined/reordered)

Listen to what I teach you^(plur) and do not ignore it. Then you will become wise.
Do not turn^(plur) a deaf ear to my advice, but rather heed it carefully so that you will become wise.

Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it: The parallel commands Listen and do not ignore function together to emphasize the importance of paying careful attention to Wisdom’s teaching/advice. The word it refers back to Wisdom’s instruction.

and be wise: The same command is found in 6:6b where the BSB translates it as “become wise.” In this particular sequence of two commands, the second command expresses result or consequence: being or becoming wise is the result of listening to Wisdom’s instruction. Other ways to express this relationship are:

so that you may be wise (NET)

and you will be wise (NCV)

General Comment on 8:33a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel commands. For example:

Listen carefully to my instructions, and you will be wise. (CEV)

However, in many languages, using both a positive and a negative command will have more impact than using a single command as the CEV has done.

8:33a

Listen to instruction and be wise;

Listen to what I tell you^(plur) to do, and then you will be wise.

8:33b

do not ignore it.

Do not neglect/ignore^(plur) this advice.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

מוּסָ֥ר

instruction

See how you translated instruction in [1:2](../01/02.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes

וְ⁠אַל־תִּפְרָֽעוּ

and,do_not neglect

Wisdom is using a figure of speech here 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: “be sure to pay attention to it” or “be sure to follow it”

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 8:33

Hebrew word order