PROV 23:22 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 Ἄκουε, υἱὲ, πατρὸς τοῦ γεννήσαντός σε, καὶ μὴ καταφρόνει ὅτι γεγήρακέ σου ἡ μήτηρ.
(Akoue, huie, patros tou gennaʸsantos se, kai maʸ katafronei hoti gegaʸrake sou haʸ maʸtaʸr. )

BrTr Hearken, my son, to thy father which begot thee, and despise not thy mother because she is grown old.

ULT Listen to your father, this one begot you,
⇔ and do not despise your mother when she is old.

UST Pay attention to your father, who enabled you to exist,
⇔ and continue to honor your mother when she becomes old.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE Listen to your father who gave you life,
⇔ and don’t despise your mother when she is old.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Listen to your father who begot you,
⇔ and do not despise your mother when she is old.

LSV Listen to your father, who begot you,
And do not despise your mother when she has become old.

FBV Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.

T4T Pay attention to what your father tells you,
⇔ and ◄do not neglect/take care of► [LIT] your mother when she is old.

LEB • Listen to your father—he who gave you life ,[fn] and do not despise your mother when[fn] she is old.

23:? Literally “caused you to be born”

23:? Or “for, because”

BBE Give ear to your father whose child you are, and do not keep honour from your mother when she is old.

Moff Listen to your own father,
⇔ and despise not your old mother;

JPS Hearken unto thy father that begot thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

ASV Hearken unto thy father that begat thee,
⇔ And despise not thy mother when she is old.

DRA Hearken to thy father, that beget thee: and despise not thy mother when she is old.

YLT Hearken to thy father, who begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she hath become old.

Drby Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

RV Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
(Hearken unto thy/your father that begat thee/you, and despise not thy/your mother when she is old. )

SLT Hear to thy father that begat thee, and thou shalt not despise thy mother when growing old.

Wbstr Hearken to thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

KJB-1769 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
(Hearken unto thy/your father that begat thee/you, and despise not thy/your mother when she is old. )

KJB-1611 Hearken vnto thy father that begate thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps Geue eare vnto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is olde.
(Give ear unto thy/your father that begat thee/you, and despise not thy/your mother when she is old.)

Gnva Obey thy father that hath begotten thee, and despise not thy mother when she is olde.
(Obey thy/your father that hath/has begotten thee/you, and despise not thy/your mother when she is old. )

Cvdl Geue eare vnto thy father that begat the, and despyse not thy mother whan she is olde.
(Give ear unto thy/your father that begat them, and despise not thy/your mother when she is old.)

Wycl Here thi fadir, that gendride thee; and dispise not thi modir, whanne sche is eld.
(Here thy/your father, that begat/gave_birth_to thee/you; and despise not thy/your mother, when she is eld.)

Luth Gehorche deinem Vater, der dich gezeugt hat, und verachte deine Mutter nicht, wenn sie alt wird!
(Gehorche your father, the/of_the you/yourself conceived has, and verachte your mother not, when they/she/them old becomes!)

ClVg Audi patrem tuum, qui genuit te, et ne contemnas cum senuerit mater tua.
(Listen father your(sg), who/which gave_birth you(sg), and not contemnas when/with senuerit mother your. )

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 23:22–25 Saying 16

In this saying, the father advises his son to pay attention to his father and mother (23:22). He should learn from them the truth that will make him wise (23:23). This will make them very happy (23:24–25).

The father’s role in giving birth to the son is mentioned twice. The mother’s role is mentioned once. This threefold mention strongly reminds the son that he owes his very life to both parents, so he should listen to them with respect.

23:22

In this verse, the underlined parallel commands and the parts in italics apply equally to both parents. The parts in italics imply that the son should continue to follow his parents’ wise advice throughout his life.Waltke (page 258–259) identifies these two phrases as a figure of speech (merism) that “spans the entire life of both parents in relationship to their son, from his birth to their old age.”

^22a Listen to your father who gave you life,

^22band do not despise your mother when she is old.

Compare the similar commands in 1:8 and 6:20. In both these verses, the commands specify the parents’ instruction, teaching, etc. Here the son is simply told to listen to the father and mother. What he will learn from them is made explicit in 23:23.

23:22a

Listen to your father who gave you life,

¶ Listen to the advice of your^(sing) father. It is he who sired/fathered you.
¶ Pay attention to me. I am your father. I am the one who gave you life.

Listen to your father: In Hebrew, the command Listen means “pay attention.” It implies that the son should heed what the father says.

The speaker himself is the father who is referred to here. In some languages, it is not natural for a speaker to refer to himself in third person as your father. In such languages, it may be necessary to make explicit that the father is the one who is speaking. For example:

Listen to me. I am your father

who gave you life: The verb that the BSB translates as who gave you life is literally “he begot you.” In Hebrew, the same verb is used in 23:25b to describe the mother’s role in giving birth to the son. Some languages may have a specific word that refers to the father’s role. For example:

begot (NASB)

sired

Consider whether a term like this is appropriate in this context. Several English versions have used the same phrase as the BSB. Some other ways to translate this idea are:

without him you would not exist (GNT)

since you are his son (GW)

23:22a–b

(combined/reordered)

¶ Listen to what your^(sing) father and mother say to you, even when they are old. They are the ones who caused you to be born, so do not ignore/reject their advice.

23:22b

and do not despise your mother when she is old.

And when your^(sing) mother becomes an old woman, do not scorn/belittle her.
As for your mother also, continue to value her words when she becomes old.

and do not despise your mother when she is old: The word that the BSB translates here as despise means to show contempt, belittle, or consider of little value. This word could refer to a scornful opinion about someone else. But here, it is parallel with 23:22a. So it probably implies that the son should not show contempt for his mother as she gets older.The Hebrew word ki that introduces this clause often introduces a reason. The GW and Murphy (page 173) translate it as “because she is old.” However, most versions and commentaries understand ki in a temporal sense here to refer to the time when the mother (and father) get old. He should not ignore or reject what she taught him.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

and don’t neglect your mother when she grows old (CEV)

and don’t scorn your mother when she is old by ignoring what she tells you

General Comment on 23:22a–b

The parallel parts in this verse refer to both the father and mother. In some languages, combining or reordering the parallel lines may make the meaning clearer. See 23:22a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.