PROV 22:1 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 Αἱρετώτερον ὄνομα καλὸν ἢ πλοῦτος πολύς, ὑπὲρ δὲ ἀργύριον καὶ χρυσίον χάρις ἀγαθή.
(Hairetōteron onoma kalon aʸ ploutos polus, huper de argurion kai ⱪrusion ⱪaris agathaʸ. )

BrTr A fair name is better than much wealth, and good favour is above silver and gold.

ULT A name is to be chosen more than abundant riches;
⇔ favor is better than silver and than gold.

UST Being someone whom people respect is more important than being very wealthy.
⇔ Indeed, being someone whom others approve of is better than having silver and gold.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE A good name is more desirable than great riches,
⇔ and loving favour is better than silver and gold.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET A good name is to be chosen rather than great wealth,
⇔ good favor more than silver or gold.

LSV A name is chosen rather than much wealth,
Than silver and than gold—good grace.

FBV A good reputation is a much better choice than plenty of money; respect is better than silver and gold.

T4T ◄Having a good reputation/Being honored by people► is better than having a lot of money;
⇔ being well respected is better than having plenty of gold or silver [DOU].

LEB No LEB PROV 22:1 verse available

BBE A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold.

Moff Reputation is a better choice than riches
⇔ esteem is more than money.
¶ 

JPS A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

ASV A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,
⇔ And loving favor rather than silver and gold.

DRA A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold.

YLT A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold — good grace.

Drby A [good] name is rather to be chosen than great riches; loving favour rather than silver and gold.

RV A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

SLT A Name to be chosen rather than much riches, and good grace rather than gold.

Wbstr A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.

KJB-1769 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.[fn]

22.1 loving…: or, favour is better than, etc

KJB-1611 ¶ [fn]A Good name is rather to be chosen then great riches, and louing fauour rather then siluer & golde.
(¶ A Good name is rather to be chosen then great riches, and loving favour rather then silver and gold.)

22:1 Or, fauour is better then, &c.

Bshps A good name is more to be desired then great riches: and louing fauour is better then siluer and golde.
(A good name is more to be desired then great riches: and loving favour is better then silver and gold.)

Gnva A good name is to be chosen aboue great riches, and louing fauour is aboue siluer and aboue golde.
(A good name is to be chosen above great riches, and loving favour is above silver and above gold. )

Cvdl A good name is more worth then greate riches, and louynge fauor is better then syluer and golde.
(A good name is more worth then great riches, and loving favour is better then silver and gold.)

Wycl Betere is a good name, than many richessis; for good grace is aboue siluer and gold.
(Better is a good name, than many riches; for good grace is above silver and gold.)

Luth Das Gerücht ist köstlicher denn großer Reichtum und Gunst besser denn Silber und Gold.
(The rumour is deliciousr because/than large wealth/abundance and favour better because/than silver(n) and Gold.)

ClVg [Melius est nomen bonum quam divitiæ multæ; super argentum et aurum gratia bona.[fn]
([Better it_is name good how wealth multæ; over silver and gold grace good(s). )

22.1 Melius est. Nam si quis mundum universum lucraretur, merito totum contemneret, ut ejus nomen scriberetur in cœlis, ejusque memoria inter sanctos atque angelos figeretur æterna. Nomen bonum. Quod fidelium testimonio laudatur, non vulgi imperiti, unde: Si adhuc hominibus placerem, Christi servus non essem! Gratia bona. Quia a bono pro bonis laudatur operibus quis: imo pro collatis ei donis meritorum glorificatur Pater qui in cœlis est.

22.1 Better it_is. For/Surely when/but_if who/any the_world whole profitsretur, deservedly whole contemneret, as his name scriberetur in/into/on heavens, hisque memory between saints and_yet messenger/angels figeretur eternal. Name good. That faithful testimony is_praised, not/no common_people imperiti, from_where/who: When/But_if still to_humans pleasem, of_Christ servant not/no I_would_be! Grace good(s). Because from good for good is_praised works who/any: rather for neckstis to_him gifts deservedlyrum glorified Pater who/which in/into/on heavens it_is.

SOTN SIL Open Translation 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

22:1

The overall meaning of this proverb is that a good reputation is more valuable or important than great wealth. It does not imply that having wealth is bad or undesirable.Longman (page 402), Waltke (page 199). Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^1a A good name is more desirable than great riches;

^1b favor is better than silver and gold.

In Hebrew, there is an ellipsis in 22:1b. The BSB has supplied the phrase “is better” for the sake of more natural English.

In Hebrew, the parallel parts in 22:1b form a chiasm. They occur in the opposite order from the parallel parts in 22:1a. The Hebrew order is literally:

than silver and than gold good favor

You will need to decide if a chiasm is natural in your language.

22:1a

A good name is more desirable than great riches;

A good name/reputation is more valuable/important than much money.
What you^(sing) should value even more than much wealth is good words about your character.

A good name is more desirable than great riches: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “A name is to be chosen more than great wealth.” The BSB has supplied the word good from the parallel Hebrew phrase “good favor” in 22:1b. In this context, it means that a good reputation is more valuable or important for a person to have than much wealth. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Being respected is more important than having great riches. (NCV)

Repute is preferable to great wealth (NJPS)

22:1a–b

(combined/reordered)

It is better to have a good reputation and be well thought of by others than it is to have/possess great wealth.
A good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold. (CEV)

22:1b

favor is better than silver and gold.

The respect/approval of other people is better than silver or gold.
It is good to have money/wealth. It is even better when other people respect you^(sing).

favor is better than silver and gold: The phrase that the BSB translates as favor is literally “good favor.” It refers to the approval and respect that a person receives from other people. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

To be well thought of is better than silver or gold. (NCV)

Respect is better than silver or gold. (GW)

General Comment on 22:1a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder and/or combine the parallel parts in these two lines. For example:

If you have to choose between a good reputation and great wealth, choose a good reputation. (GNT)

A good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold. (CEV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

נִבְחָ֣ר שֵׁ֭ם מֵ⁠עֹ֣שֶׁר רָ֑ב מִ⁠כֶּ֥סֶף וּ֝⁠מִ⁠זָּהָ֗ב חֵ֣ן טֽוֹב

chosen name_of more,than_wealth great more,than_silver and,more,than_gold graciousness/kindness/favour/beauty good

These two clauses mean basically the same thing. The second clause emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the clauses with a word that shows that the second clause is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: “A name is to be chosen more than abundant riches; yes, favor is better than silver and than gold”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

שֵׁ֭ם

name_of

Here, name refers to a person’s reputation. Solomon implies that it is a good reputation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “A good reputation”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

נִבְחָ֣ר שֵׁ֭ם

chosen name_of

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: “A person should choose a good name”

Note 4 topic: translate-textvariants

מִ⁠כֶּ֥סֶף וּ֝⁠מִ⁠זָּהָ֗ב חֵ֣ן טֽוֹב

more,than_silver and,more,than_gold graciousness/kindness/favour/beauty good

This clause could also be translated as “good favor more than silver and than gold,” with is to be chosen implied from the previous clause. If a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If a translation of the Bible does not exist in your region, you may wish to use the reading of the ULT. Alternate translation: “good favor is to be chosen more than silver and than gold” or “people should choose being favored by others rather than having silver and gold”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

מִ⁠כֶּ֥סֶף וּ֝⁠מִ⁠זָּהָ֗ב חֵ֣ן טֽוֹב

more,than_silver and,more,than_gold graciousness/kindness/favour/beauty good

Here Solomon refers to having favor, silver, and gold. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “having favor is better than having silver and gold”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

חֵ֣ן

graciousness/kindness/favour/beauty