PROV 17:11 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Ἀντιλογίας ἐγείρει πᾶς κακὸς, ὁ δὲ Κύριος ἄγγελον ἀνελεήμονα ἐκπέμψει αὐτῷ.
(Antilogias egeirei pas kakos, ho de Kurios angelon aneleaʸmona ekpempsei autōi. )

BrTr Every bad man stirs up strifes: but the Lord will send out against him an unmerciful messenger.

ULT An evil one seeks only rebellion,
⇔ and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

UST Evil people only want to rebel,
⇔ so a merciless messenger will come and punish them.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE An evil man seeks only rebellion;
⇔ therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET An evil person seeks only rebellion,
⇔ and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

LSV An evil man seeks only rebellion,
And a fierce messenger is sent against him.

FBV Evil people are only looking to rebel, so a cruel messenger[fn] will be sent to attack them.

17:11 “Cruel messenger”: perhaps referring to death.

T4T ⇔ Because wicked people are always trying to cause trouble,
⇔ someone will be sent to severely punish them.

LEB • An evil person will seek only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

BBE An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him.

Moff Rebels are out for mischief,
⇔ but the king will send a cruel force against them.

JPS A rebellious man seeketh only evil; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

ASV An evil man seeketh only rebellion;
⇔ Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

DRA An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him.

YLT An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.

Drby An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion; but a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

RV An evil man seeketh only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
(An evil man seeketh/seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. )

SLT An evil one will seek only contradiction: and a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

Wbstr An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

KJB-1769 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
(An evil man seeketh/seeks only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. )

KJB-1611 An euill man seeketh onely rebellion; therefore a cruell messenger shall be sent against him.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps A seditious person seketh mischiefe, and a cruell messenger shalbe sent agaynst hym.
(A seditious person seeketh/seeks mischief, and a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.)

Gnva A sedicious person seeketh onely euill, and a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
(A seditionus person seeketh/seeks only evil, and a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. )

Cvdl A sedicious personne seketh myschefe, but a cruell messaunger shal be sent agaynst him.
(A seditionus person seeketh/seeks mischief, but a cruel messaunger shall be sent against him.)

Wycl Euere an yuel man sekith stryues; forsothe a cruel aungel schal be sent ayens hym.
(Ever an evil man seeketh/seeks strives; for_certain/truly a cruel angel shall be sent against him.)

Luth Ein bitterer Mensch trachtet Schaden zu tun; aber es wird ein grausamer Engel über ihn kommen.
(A bitterr person strives/aspires damage/harm(n) to/for do/put; but it becomes a gruesome angel above him/it coming.)

ClVg Semper jurgia quærit malus: angelus autem crudelis mittetur contra eum.
(Semper quarrel seeks bad: messenger/angel however cruel will_sendur on_the_contrary him. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs. It has a very different structure from the longer poetic lectures of chapters 1–9. It consists mostly of individual couplets (two-line poems) that are each one verse in length. With the exception of the title (10:1a), paragraph breaks will not be indicated in the Notes or Display. You may of course choose to start each proverb as a separate paragraph in your translation.

In chapters 10–15, most of these one-verse couplets express a contrast between the two lines. One of the more common contrasts is between the righteous/wise and the wicked/foolish and the different consequences of their conduct.

In chapters 16:1–22:16, more topics are discussed. There is more emphasis on the role of the king and other leaders. In these chapters, there are few proverbs with contrasting lines. Some of the parallel lines are similar in meaning. More frequently, the second line adds to what the first line says or gives an example. Most of the verses have no obvious connection with the previous or following proverbs.UBS (page 214), Fox (page 509), McKane (page 413). Many scholars, including McKane, point out that there are some topical groupings as well as poetic connections. These include the repetition of certain words or sounds. This observation does not deny the individual nature of most of the proverbs in this Section.

Two of the types of proverbs in this section are not found in chapters 1–9. One type contains logical reasoning from the lesser to the greater. See 11:31 for a list of these proverbs. There are also several varieties of complex “better than” proverbs. The most common have a contrasting situation in each line (see 12:9). For other varieties, see 16:16, 19:1, and 21:9.

Many of the proverbs in this section refer to categories of people who share a common trait. For example, they refer to the righteous, the wise, the poor, and the lazy. In Hebrew, some verses use singular forms to refer to these groups of people. Other verses use plural forms. Still others use a combination of singular and plural. See the note on 10:30a–b for one example. For most of these verses, the Notes will not comment on the difference between singular and plural forms. Use a natural way in your language to refer to one or more people who are in the same category.

Many of the proverbs in this section express a general principle in abstract terms. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. For example, 10:2a–b says:

Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,

but righteousness delivers from death.

However, the author intended his readers to understand these proverbs as advice that they should follow. In some languages, authors or speakers give advice more directly, using pronouns such as you^(sing), you^(plur), we^(dual), or we^(incl). See the note on 10:2 for translation suggestions.

Some other headings for this section are:

Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

The Wise Words of Solomon (NCV)

Here are many wise things that Solomon said

17:11

There are no parallel pairs in this verse. The second line gives the result of the first line.

^11aAn evil man seeks only rebellion;

^11ba cruel messenger will be sent against him.

When an evil man rebels, a messenger will be sent to punish him severely.

17:11a

An evil man seeks only rebellion;

An evil person seeks only to rebel.
Wicked people always try to oppose someone who has authority over them.

An evil man seeks only rebellion: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “An evil person seeks only rebellion.” It means that an evil person focuses his plans on defying or revolting against someone who has authority over him.Cohen (page 113). He also makes every effort to encourage others to rebel along with him.Hubbard (page 325), NIDOTTE (H5286). Some other ways to translate this clause are:

The wicked person thinks of nothing but rebellion (NJB)

Evil people are eager for rebellion (NLT)

Wicked people always try to oppose those who have authority.

rebellion: The Hebrew text does not specify who the evil person rebels against. It could be either the LORD or a government leader, such as the king. Most English versions are ambiguous.The NIV and the CEV definitely imply in the parallel line (17:11b) that the object of the rebellion is a human authority. The one who would send “a merciless official” (NIV) or “vicious attackers” (CEV) would probably be the king, not God. However, neither version specifies the object of the rebellion in 17:11a. It is recommended that you translate in a way that will allow either meaning to be understood.

17:11b

a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

As a result, a messenger who shows no mercy will be sent to punish him.
That one in authority will send someone to punish them harshly/mercilessly.

Verse 17:11b gives the negative result of 17:11a. In Hebrew and in the BSB, this connection is left implied. Some English versions make the connection explicit. For example:

so (REB)

but (NRSV)

Introduce this result in a way that is natural in your language.

a cruel messenger will be sent against him: In the phrase that the BSB translates as a cruel messenger and in this context, the word cruel may describe the punishment that the messenger announces or carries out. This punishment will be severe or harshWaltke (page 53) says that the messenger may be “a metonymy for the Angel of Death…or, more probably, a personification of death itself.” The GNT understands it in the second sense. It has: “Death will come like a cruel messenger.” Most versions and scholars do not identify the “messenger” so specifically. (see the NLT, quoted below).

The word may also describe the way in which the messenger will announce or carry out the punishment. He will do it ruthlessly. He will obey his orders without showing mercy or pity (see the REB, quoted below).

The word messenger has several meanings in the OT:

Sometimes it refers to a prophet or an angel sent by the LORD.
Sometimes it refers to a diplomat or official sent by a king.
Sometimes it refers to an ordinary person sent by his master to deliver a message.

No English versions specify that the messenger is sent by the LORD. Most versions do not specify who will send the messenger. For example:

a messenger without mercy will be sent against him (REB)

It is recommended that you translate in a way that can refer to either the LORD or a human leader. This kind of ambiguity better fits the ambiguous nature of the rebellion in 17:11a. It also allows the proverb to apply to a wider variety of situations.

If a person rebels against the LORD, then the LORD will send someone or something to punish him. For example, he will send a fatal illness or a natural disaster. If a person rebels against the government, then the government leader will send a messenger or official. This official will arrest him or carry out the punishment.Scholars who say that either view is possible include Ross, Delitzsch, Murphy, and Fox. Scholars who think that the rebellion is probably against a human leader or government include Garrett, Toy, Hubbard, Longman, Cook, McKane, UBS, and TWOT (#1242a). Whybray, Cohen, and Waltke favor the view that this verse probably refers to rebellion against God. See Waltke (page 52) for more details.

Some ways to keep this ambiguity are:

Use a passive verb. For example:
Therefore, a cruel messenger will be sent to punish him. (GW)
Use a passive verb and make the messenger implicit. For example:
but they will be severely punished (NLT)
Use a general phrase to refer to the one who sends the messenger. For example:
The one in authority will send a messenger to punish him severely.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

רָ֑ע וּ⁠מַלְאָ֥ךְ אַ֝כְזָרִ֗י & בּֽ⁠וֹ

evil and,a_messenger cruel & in/on/over=him/it

An evil one, a cruel messenger, and him represent types of people in general, not one particular evil one or messenger. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “Any evil person … and any cruel messenger … against that person”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אַךְ־מְרִ֥י יְבַקֶּשׁ

only rebellion seek

See how you translated the same use of seeks in [11:27](../11/27.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

מְרִ֥י

rebellion

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of rebellion, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “being rebellious”

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

וּ⁠מַלְאָ֥ךְ אַ֝כְזָרִ֗י

and,a_messenger cruel

Here, and introduces the result of an evil one rebelling. Use the most natural way in your language to indicate result. You may need to start a new sentence. Alternate translation: “As a result, a cruel messenger”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

וּ⁠מַלְאָ֥ךְ אַ֝כְזָרִ֗י יְשֻׁלַּח

and,a_messenger cruel sent

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “and someone will send a cruel messenger”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

יְשֻׁלַּח־בּֽ⁠וֹ

sent in/on/over=him/it

Here, against him implies that the messenger will punish the evil one. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “will be sent to punish him”

Parallel PROV 17:11

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

17:11

17:11a

17:11b