PROV 20:3 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 Δόξα ἀνδρὶ ἀποστρέφεσθαι λοιδορίας, πᾶς δὲ ἄφρων τοιούτοις συμπλέκεται.
(Doxa andri apostrefesthai loidorias, pas de afrōn toioutois sumpleketai. )

BrTr It is a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.

UST It is honorable to cease arguing with other people,
⇔ but all foolish people are eager to argue with others.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife,
⇔ but every fool will be quarrelling.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET It is an honor for a person to cease from strife,
⇔ but every fool quarrels.

LSV Cessation from strife is an honor to a man,
And every fool interferes.

FBV Avoiding conflict is the proper thing to do, but stupid people are quick to argue.

T4T ⇔ People respect those who stay away from disputes/arguments;
⇔ foolish people love to quarrel.

LEB • It is honorable for the man to refrain from strife, but every fool will be quick to quarrel.

BBE It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.

Moff It does men honour to keep clear of strife:
⇔ a fool quarrels with everyone.

JPS It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be snarling.

ASV It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife;
⇔ But every fool will be quarrelling.

DRA It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.

YLT An honour to a man is cessation from strife, And every fool intermeddleth.

Drby It is an honour for a man to cease from strife; but every fool rusheth into it.

RV It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife: but every fool will be quarrelling.

SLT Honor to a man ceasing from strife: and every foolish one will be irritated.

Wbstr It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

KJB-1769 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

KJB-1611 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but euery foole will be medling.
(It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be medling.)

Bshps It is a mans honour to kepe him selfe from strife: but euery foole wyll be medling.
(It is a mans honour to keep himself from strife: but every fool will be medling.)

Gnva It is a mans honour to cease from strife: but euery foole will be medling.
(It is a mans honour to cease from strife: but every fool will be medling. )

Cvdl It is a mans honoure to kepe himself from strife, but they yt haue pleasure in braulinge, are fooles eueryone.
(It is a mans honour to keep himself from strife, but they it have pleasure in braulinge, are fools everyone.)

Wycl It is onour to a man that departith hym silf fro stryuyngis; but fonned men ben medlid with dispisyngis.
(It is honour to a man that departith himself from strivingis; but foolish men been medlid with despisingis.)

Luth Es ist dem Mann eine Ehre, vom Hader bleiben; aber die gerne hadern, sind allzumal Narren.
(It is to_him man a/one honour(n), from_the Hader remain/stay; but the gladly/willingly struggle, are all_the_time fool(n).)

ClVg Honor est homini qui separat se a contentionibus; omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.
(Honor it_is to_man who/which separates himself from contentionibus; everyone however fools miscentur contumeliis. )

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

20:3

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^3aIt is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute,

^3bbut any fool will quarrel.

The main contrast is between avoiding quarrels and starting them.

20:3a

It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute,

It is honorable for a person to avoid arguing,
If you^(sing) stay away from arguments/conflict, people will respect you.

It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute: This clause means that a person who refrains from fighting or quarreling will gain honor and respect from other people.

a dispute: In Hebrew, this word can refer specifically to a legal dispute, such as a “law-suit” (NJB). Here the word probably refers more generally to any kind of quarrel or dispute.

Some other ways to translate 20:3a are:

It is honorable to refrain from strife (NRSV)

Avoiding a quarrel is honorable. (GW)

In some languages, it may be necessary to make the source of honor explicit. For example:

If a person stays away from quarreling, his fellowmen will praise/honor him.

20:3a–b

(combined/reordered)

Foolish people are always fighting, but avoiding quarrels will bring you honor. (NCV)

20:3b

but any fool will quarrel.

but all fools start quarrels/fights.
If you^(sing) are a stubborn/insolent fool, you will constantly be arguing/quarreling.

but any fool: In Hebrew, this word for fool implies an insolent or stubborn fool. For example:

any stubborn fool (GW)

See fool 1 in the Glossary.

will quarrel: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as will quarrel is literally “breaks out.” Here it indicates that fools frequently or customarily start fights or quarrels with other people. Some other ways to translate 20:3b are:

but every fool quarrels (NET)

but all fools like to start fights

General Comment on 20:3a–b

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

^3bAny fool can start arguments; ^3athe honorable thing is to stay out of them. (GNT)

See also 20:3a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

כָּב֣וֹד & שֶׁ֣בֶת מֵ⁠רִ֑יב

honour & refrain from,strife

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of Honor, cessation and strife, you could express the same ideas in other ways. Alternate translation: “Being honorable … is ceasing to strive”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

לָ֭⁠אִישׁ

to,person

The word man represents people in general, not one particular man. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a more natural expression. Alternate translation: “for a person”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יִתְגַּלָּֽע

quick_to_quarrel