PROV 23:1 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.)

OET (OET-RV) When you sit down to eat with a political leader,
⇔ pay attention to what’s in front of you,

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 Ἐὰν καθίσῃς δειπνεῖν ἐπὶ τραπέζης δυνάστου, νοητῶς νόει τὰ παρατιθέμενά σοι.
(Ean kathisaʸs deipnein epi trapezaʸs dunastou, noaʸtōs noei ta paratithemena soi. )

BrTr If thou sit to sup at the table of a prince, consider attentively the things set before thee:

ULT When you sit to eat with a ruler,
⇔ consider carefully what is before your face,

UST When you sit down to eat a meal with someone who rules over others,
⇔ pay attention to the food that is in front of you.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE When you sit to eat with a ruler,
⇔ consider diligently what is before you;

WMBB (Same as above)

NET When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
⇔ consider carefully what is before you,

LSV When you sit to eat with a ruler,
Diligently consider that which [is] before you,

FBV When you sit down for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,

T4T When you sit down to eat a meal with a ◄government official/king►,
⇔ think carefully about what (OR, who) is in front of you.

LEB No LEB PROV 23:1 verse available

BBE When you take your seat at the feast with a ruler, give thought with care to what is before you;

Moff When you are sitting at a ruler’s table
⇔ be careful how you eat;

JPS When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider well him that is before thee;

ASV When thou sittest to eat with a ruler,
⇔ Consider diligently him that is before thee;

DRA When thou shalt sit to eat with a prince, consider diligently what is set before thy face.

YLT When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, Thou considerest diligently that which [is] before thee,

Drby When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider well who is before thee;

RV When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently him that is before thee;
(When thou/you sittest/sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently him that is before thee/you; )

SLT If thou shalt sit to eat with a ruler, understanding, thou shalt understand what is before thee.

Wbstr When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:

KJB-1769 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
(When thou/you sittest/sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee/you: )

KJB-1611 ¶ When thou sittest to eate with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps When thou sittest to eate with a noble man, consider diligently what is set before thee.
(When thou/you sittest/sit to eat with a noble man, consider diligently what is set before thee/you.)

Gnva When thou sittest to eate with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee,
(When thou/you sittest/sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee/you, )

Cvdl When thou syttest at the table to eate wt a lorde, ordre thy self manerly wt ye thinges
(When thou/you sittest/sit at the table to eat with a lord, order thy/your self mannerly with ye/you_all things)

Wycl Whanne thou sittist, to ete with the prince, perseyue thou diligentli what thingis ben set bifore thi face,
(When thou/you sittest/sit, to eat with the prince, perceive thou/you diligently what things been set before thy/your face,)

Luth Wenn du sitzest und issest mit einem Herrn, so merke, wen du vor dir hast,
(When you(sg) sit and issest with on Lord, so merke, who you(sg) before/in_front_of you/to_you(sg) have,)

ClVg [Quando sederis ut comedas cum principe, diligenter attende quæ apposita sunt ante faciem tuam.[fn]
([When sederis as eat when/with principe, carefully pay_attention which apposita are before face your(sg). )

23.1 Quando sederis. Allegorice legendum est, etc., usque ad unde bene subjungit:

23.1 When sederis. Allegorice lawfullyndum it_is, etc., until to from_where/who well subjoins:

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 22:17–24:22: Here are thirty sayings of wise people

This section follows the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs (10:1–22:16). It differs in significant ways from this preceding section:These differences were summarized from a number of commentaries, including UBS (page 472), Waltke (2004, page 22), and Hubbard (page 351).

The preceding section has mostly two-line proverbs that are one verse in length. This section has proverbs of a different form. They are sayings that range from one to seven verses. Most of the sayings are two or three verses in length. Each saying will be marked as a separate paragraph in the Notes.
Many of the proverbs in the preceding section express a general principle. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. Most of the sayings here contain direct commands. They advise the reader or listener either to follow wise behavior or avoid foolish behavior. Most of the sayings also give a reason or motive for following the command.
As in chapters 1–9, the author addresses his reader or listener as a father who advises his son. He uses second person commands and pronouns (you^(sing)). See the note on 23:15 for a list of verses where the words “my son” occur.

Some other headings for this section are:

Thirty Wise Sayings (CEV)

Words of the Wise (ESV)

Thirty Sayings of the Wise (NIV11)

Verse 22:20 mentions “thirty sayings,” but the Hebrew text itself does not number the sayings. Some versions that use the word “thirty” in the section heading also give a number as a separate heading for each saying. The GNT and CEV start numbering the sayings at 22:22. They have a total of thirty-one paragraphs. In these versions, the first paragraph (22:17–21) serves as an introduction to the thirty sayings (22:22–24:22).Scholars who identify 22:17–21 as the first saying include Hubbard (page 352), Fox (page 707), and Waltke (2004, page 22). Scholars who identify these verses as an introduction to the sayings that follow include Whybray (page 325) and Murphy (page 170). See also the NET footnote (b) on 22:16. Whether these introductory verses form the first saying or simply introduce the following sayings, all scholars agree that they function as an introduction to the whole section. Other versions, such as the NIV, NCV, and NLT, divide the paragraphs in the same way but do not have separate headings for each section. You may use either option in your translation.The NIV11 gives a number as a separate heading for each saying. But it counts the first paragraph as the first saying, and has a total of thirty paragraphs. Other versions have more or fewer paragraphs. For example, the ESV and NRSV have fifteen paragraphs. The NJB has thirty-four. Still other versions, such as the RSV, NET, and NJPS, do not group the verses into sayings or paragraphs.

For the convenience of those who decide to identify the number of each saying in their translation, the Notes will put the number in the paragraph headings, using the same numbering system as the GNT or CEV. These numbers will not be used in the Display.

Paragraph 23:1–3 Saying 6

In this saying, the author continues to address his readers as a father who advises his son. He advises the young man to be careful in the way he conducts himself when he eats with an important person. It is implied that the host may have prepared the plentiful and tasty food in order to test the young man’s self-control.Longman (page 422–423), Murphy (page 174).

The first two verses do not contain parallel parts.

23:1–8

The three sayings in 23:1–8 are all related by a common theme or at least a common implication. This theme is that the actual situation is not what it seems to be. Sayings 6 and 8 both imply that a person who invites someone to a meal is not necessarily motivated by friendship. Saying 7 implies that people expect wealth to provide lasting security, but it does not.Waltke (page 237).

23:1a

When you sit down to dine with a ruler,

¶ When you^(sing) sit down to eat with an important official in the government,
¶ When a person of high status invites you to eat with him,

When you sit down to dine with a ruler: This clause gives the setting for the rest of the saying. It describes a situation where the young man has been invited to share a meal with a person who has political power or authority. This person could be a king, governor, or other official who has the influence to affect the young man’s career. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

If you sit down to eat with a ruler (NCV)

When you sit down to eat with someone important (GNT)

sit down: Most versions specify sit, as in the Hebrew. But there is no emphasis here on the young man’s physical position. In some languages, it may be more natural to leave this detail implied. For example:

When you are invited to eat with a king (CEV)

23:1b

consider carefully what is set before you,

be sure that you^(sing) understand your situation with so much food in front of you.
and you see the many kinds of food on the table, think carefully about how you should act/behave.

consider carefully what is set before you: There are two ways to interpret the word that the BSB translates as what. The word could also mean “who.”

The word means “what.” It refers to the food that is placed before the young man. For example:
observe carefully what is before you (NRSV) (BSB, ESV, GW, KJV, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NLT, NRSV, REB)
The word means “who.” It refers to the ruler who is in front of the young man. For example:
consider well who is before you (NJPS) (NAB, NJPS, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Most English versions, as well as the LXX and other ancient translations, follow this interpretation.Waltke, Cohen, and Fox all give reasons against interpretation (2) based on Hebrew word usage. Waltke (page 238) says that interpretation (2) would normally have a direct object pronoun “him” rather than the relative pronoun “who/what.” Fox (page 720) and Cohen (page 152) both say that interpretation (2) would have required a wording such as “before whom you sit.”

consider carefully: In Hebrew, the verb phrase that the BSB translates as consider carefully is emphatic. It means “consider carefully” or “be sure to understand.”Hubbard (page 357), Garrett (page 195).

The following context implies that the young man should think carefully about the implications of the plentiful food. He should consider how to behave appropriately in that kind of situation. In some languages, it may be helpful to make some of this implied information explicit. For example:

Think carefully about what all that food in front of you means/implies.

Parallel PROV 23:1

Section 22:17–24:22: Here are thirty sayings of wise people

Paragraph 23:1–3 Saying 6

23:1–8

23:1a

23:1b