PROV 20:15 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: .
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).

ULT There is gold and an abundance of corals,
⇔ but lips of knowledge are a vessel of preciousness.

UST Gold and precious jewels are plentiful,
⇔ but the knowledgeable things that people say are rare and precious.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE There is gold and abundance of rubies,
⇔ but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET There is gold, and an abundance of rubies,
⇔ but words of knowledge are like a precious jewel.

LSV Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies,
Indeed, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.

FBV There's gold and plenty of expensive gemstones, but talking sense is a more valuable jewel.

T4T ⇔ Gold and precious stones are valuable,
⇔ but wise words [MTY] are more valuable.

LEB • There is gold and many costly stones, but precious jewels are lips of knowledge.

BBE There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.

Moff Gold, wealth of rubies, jewels rare--
⇔ such are wise words.

JPS There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

ASV There is gold, and abundance of rubies;
⇔ But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

DRA There is gold, and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.

YLT Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Yea, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.

Drby There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious Jewel.

RV There is gold, and abundance of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

SLT There is gold and a multitude of pearls: and a precious vessel the lips of knowledge.

Wbstr There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

KJB-1769 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

KJB-1611 There is gold, and a multitude of Rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious iewell.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps There is golde, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lippes of knowledge are a precious iewell.
(There is gold, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.)

Gnva There is golde, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lips of knowledge are a precious iewel.
(There is gold, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. )

Cvdl A mouth of vnderstodinge is more worth then golde, many precious stones, and costly Iewels.
(A mouth of understanding is more worth then gold, many precious stones, and costly Jewels.)

Wycl Gold, and the multitude of iemmes, and a preciouse vessel, ben the lippis of kunnyng.
(Gold, and the multitude of iemmes, and a precious vessel, been the lips of cunning.)

Luth Es ist Gold und viel Perlen; aber ein vernünftiger Mund ist ein edel Kleinod.
(It is Gold and many pearls; but a reasonable mouth is a precious/fine gem.)

ClVg Est aurum et multitudo gemmarum, et vas pretiosum labia scientiæ.][fn]
(It_is gold and multitude/crowd gemmarum, and vessel at_a_pricesum lips of_knowledge.] )

20.15 Est aurum et multitudo. Hæc est gloriatio sapientis emptoris, etc., usque ad et vasis esse assimilanda pretiosis.

20.15 It_is gold and multitude/crowd. This it_is to_boasto wise emptoris, etc., until to and vessels to_be assimilanda at_a_pricesis.

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

20:15

This verse compares things that are valuable (20:15a) to something that is even more valuable (20:15b). The second line uses a metaphor to emphasize the value of wise words.

^15aThere is an abundance of gold and rubies,

^15bbut lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.

The overall meaning is that wise words are more valuable than gold or jewels.

20:15a

There is an abundance of gold and rubies,

There is gold. There are also many jewels/rubies.
This world contains lots of gold and precious stones,

There is an abundance of gold and rubies: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally, “There is gold and an abundance of rubies.” This line means that gold and rubies both exist. The phrase an abundance describes primarily rubies, but the context implies that gold is also plentiful.

rubies: In Hebrew, this word may refer to “rubies” (NET) or “red coral” (REB). The meaning is uncertain. So some English versions use a more general term such as “costly stones” (ESV) or “jewels” (NASB).

If you use a specific term such as “rubies” or “red corals,” be sure that these items are considered to be extremely valuable. See how you translated the same word in 3:15a and 8:11a.

Another way to translate this line is:

Gold is plentiful, jewels abundant (NJPS)

20:15a–b

(combined/reordered)

The words of a wise person are more valuable than much gold and many jewels.

20:15b

but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.

But wise words are more valuable. They are like beautiful jewelry.
but an informed person who speaks wisely has more value than these.

but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure: The phrase that the BSB literally translates as lips of knowledge is a figure of speech that represents either knowledgeable/wise words or the person who speaks with knowledge and wisdom. In this context, the word knowledge means the same thing as “wisdom.” See knowledge in the Glossary. Some other ways to translate this figure of speech are:

Keep the word lips or a similar figure of speech, such as “mouth.” For example:
wise lips (NAB)
a mouth that speaks wise words
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
wise speech (NJPS)
people who speak wisely/knowledgeably

Also see the examples in the next note.

The whole line is a metaphor. It compares lips of knowledge to a rare treasure. The similarity is that both wise words and treasures are very rare or valuable. Some other ways to translate this metaphor are:

Keep the metaphor. For example:
wise lips are a precious ornament (NAB)
Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
words of knowledge are like a precious jewel (NET)Notice that the NET made at least two translation adjustments. They also translated the literal Hebrew phrase “lips of knowledge” (a metonymy) as “words of knowledge.”
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
Sensible words are far more valuable.

a rare treasure: In Hebrew, this phrase refers to a highly valued object that someone has made, such as a jeweled ornament or other piece of jewelry.Fox (page 669) and Waltke (page 144) point out that the Hebrew word used here is literally “vessel.” It refers to a wide range of things that people make. The adjective “rare” along with the terms used in the first line make it likely that it refers to jewelry. Although a few versions (REB, NCV) understand “rare” in the sense of “scarce,” most versions and scholars take it to mean “valuable” or “highly valued.”

General Comment on 20:15a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of these two lines. For example:

Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies. (NLT)

If you know what you are talking about, you have something more valuable than gold or jewels. (GNT)

Both these versions translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. See also 20:15a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-unknown

פְּנִינִ֑ים

costly_stones

See how you translated corals in [3:15](../03/15.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וּ⁠כְלִ֥י יְ֝קָ֗ר שִׂפְתֵי־דָֽעַת

and_[are],an_article_of precious lips_of knowledge

Here Solomon speaks of the value of lips of knowledge as if they were a vessel of preciousness. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “but lips of knowledge are as valuable as a vessel of preciousness”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

שִׂפְתֵי־דָֽעַת

lips_of knowledge

See how you translated this phrase in [14:7](../14/07.md).

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

וּ⁠כְלִ֥י יְ֝קָ֗ר

and_[are],an_article_of precious

Here Solomon is using the possessive form to describe a vessel that is characterized by preciousness. If your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: “but … are a precious vessel”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit