PROV 20:23 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: red:negative, green:YHWH.
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 Βδέλυγμα Κυρίῳ δισσὸν στάθμιον, καὶ ζυγὸς δόλιος οὐ καλὸν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ.
(Bdelugma Kuriōi disson stathmion, kai zugos dolios ou kalon enōpion autou. )

BrTr A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.

ULT Stone and stone are an abomination to Yahweh,
⇔ and scales of deceit are not good.

UST Yahweh detests people dishonestly using differing weights to benefit themselves.
⇔ Indeed, using weighing instruments in order to deceive others is very bad.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE The LORD detests differing weights,
⇔ and dishonest scales are not pleasing.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET The Lord abhors differing weights,
⇔ and dishonest scales are wicked.

LSV A stone and a stone [are] an abomination to YHWH,
And balances of deceit [are] not good.

FBV The Lord hates incorrect weights; using dishonest scales is wrong.

T4T ⇔ Yahweh detests those who use dishonest scales
⇔ and weights that are not accurate/correct.

LEB • An abomination of Yahweh is a stone and a weight ,[fn] and scales of falsehood are not good.

20:? Literally “a stone and a stone”

BBE Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.

Moff Different weights are loathsome to the Eternal;
⇔ a false balance is unfair.

JPS Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

ASV Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah;
⇔ And a false balance is not good.

DRA Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.

YLT An abomination to Jehovah [are] a stone and a stone, And balances of deceit [are] not good.

Drby Divers weights are an abomination unto Jehovah; and a false balance is not good.

RV Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
(Divers weights are an abomination/disgusting_thing to the LORD; and a false balance is not good. )

SLT An abomination of Jehovah stone and stone; and the balance of deceit is not good.

Wbstr Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

KJB-1769 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.[fn]
(Divers weights are an abomination/disgusting_thing unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good. )

20.23 a false…: Heb. balance of deceit

KJB-1611 [fn][fn]Diuers waights are an abomination vnto the LORD: and a false ballance is not good.
(Diuers weights are an abomination/disgusting_thing unto the LORD: and a false balance is not good.)

20:23 Verse 10.

20:23 Hebr. ballances of deceit.

Bshps Diuers wayghtes are an abhomination vnto the Lord, and a false balaunce is not good.
(Diuers weights are an abomination/disgusting_thing unto the Lord, and a false balance is not good.)

Gnva Diuers weightes are an abomination vnto the Lord, and deceitful balances are not good.
(Diuers weights are an abomination/disgusting_thing unto the Lord, and deceitful balances are not good. )

Cvdl The LORDE abhorreth two maner of weightes, and a false balauce is an euell thinge.
(The LORD abhorreth two manner of weights, and a false balauce is an evil thing.)

Wycl Abhomynacioun at God is weiyte and weiyte; a gileful balaunce is not good.
(Abhomynacioun at God is weight and weight; a guileful balance is not good.)

Luth Mancherlei Gewicht ist ein Greuel dem HErr’s, und eine falsche Waage ist nicht gut.
(Mancherlei Gewicht is a abomination/disgusting_thing to_him LORD’s, and a/one false scale is not good.)

ClVg Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus; statera dolosa non est bona.[fn]
(Abominatio it_is at the_Master weight and weight; balance(n)/scales deceitful not/no it_is good(s). )

20.23 Abominatio est apud Deum pondus et pondus, statera dolosa, etc. Duplex pondus et stateram dolosam habet in corde suo, etc., usque ad vel animam suam Deo in baptismo consecratam.

20.23 Abominatio it_is at God weight and weight, balance(n)/scales deceitful, etc. Duplex weight and balance(n)/scales deceitfulm has in/into/on heart his_own, etc., until to or the_soul his_own to_God in/into/on baptism consecratedm.

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

20:23

This proverb has a similar theme to 11:1 and 20:10, but the structure is slightly different. Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^23a Unequal weights are detestable to LORD

^23band dishonest scales are no good.

20:23a

Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD,

Yahweh is disgusted when people use different weights to cheat others.

Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD: For the word detestable, see the note on 20:10b. For the phrase Unequal weights, see the note on 20:10a and the General Comment on 20:10a–b at the end of 20:10b.

As in 20:10a, the phrase Unequal weights is a figure of speech (metonymy). It represents the practice of using differing weights in a balance scale to cheat people. It also represents the dishonest people who cheat others in this way. Some ways to translate this figure of speech are:

Keep the metonymy. For example:
The Lord detests double standards (NLT)
The LORD is repulsed/nauseated by scales that show the wrong weight
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
Using inaccurate scales is abhorrent/disgusting to the LORD.
The LORD is disgusted when people cheat others by using weighing devices that are not correct/accurate.

20:23a–b

(combined/reordered)

Yahweh detests buyers and sellers who use scales with false/inaccurate weights.
It is detestable/disgusting to Yahweh when people use inaccurate weights and scales in order to cheat their fellowmen.
Yahweh is repulsed/nauseated by scales that show the wrong weight. It is very wrong to use such things!

20:23b

and dishonest scales are no good.

Using inaccurate scales like that is absolutely not good.

and dishonest scales are no good: For the phrase dishonest scales, see the notes on 11:1a–b and 11:1a.

are no good: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “are not good.” This phrase is a figure of speech (litotes). Its function is to emphasize that inaccurate scales are very bad. The LORD is disgusted when people cheat others by using such scales.

General Comment on 20:23a–b

The parallel terms “unequal weights” and “dishonest scales” both refer to using an inaccurate weighing device in order to cheat people. In some languages, it may be more natural to combine the parallel lines. For example:

The Lord hates people who use dishonest scales and weights. (GNT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה אֶ֣בֶן וָ⁠אָ֑בֶן וּ⁠מֹאזְנֵ֖י מִרְמָ֣ה לֹא־טֽוֹב

abomination_of YHWH stone and,a_weight and,balances_of false not good

These two phrases mean basically the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. Hebrew poetry was based on this kind of repetition, and it would be good to show this to your readers by including both phrases in your translation rather than combining them. However, if it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the phrases with a word other than and in order to show that the second phrase is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: “Stone and stone are an abomination to Yahweh; no, scales of deceit are not good”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

אֶ֣בֶן וָ⁠אָ֑בֶן

stone and,a_weight

See how you translated this phrase in [20:10](../20/10.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה

abomination_of YHWH

See how you translated this phrase in [20:10](../20/10.md).

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

וּ⁠מֹאזְנֵ֖י מִרְמָ֣ה

and,balances_of false

See how you translated scales of deceit in [11:1](../11/01.md).