PROV 25:20 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=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Taking off your coat on a cold day,
⇔ is like pouring vinegar on baking soda
⇔ or singing songs to someone who’s feeling sad.

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 Ὥσπερ ὄξος ἕλκει ἀσύμφορον, οὕτως προσπεσὸν πάθος ἐν σώματι καρδίαν λυπεῖ·
(Hōsper oxos helkei asumforon, houtōs prospeson pathos en sōmati kardian lupei; )

BrTr As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart.

ULT One removing a garment on a cold day,
⇔ vinegar on natron,
⇔ so is a singer with songs to a heart of misery.

UST Singing songs to someone who is sad
⇔ is as unhelpful as taking a coat off of someone in cold weather
⇔ or pouring vinegar on soda.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE As one who takes away a garment in cold weather,
⇔ or vinegar on soda,
⇔ so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
⇔ or like vinegar poured on soda,
⇔ so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

LSV Whoever is taking away a garment in a cold day,
[Is as] vinegar on natron,
And a singer of songs on a sad heart.

FBV Singing happy songs to someone who's broken-hearted is like taking off your coat on a cold day, or pouring vinegar onto an open wound.[fn]

25:20 “An open wound”: Septuagint reading. Hebrew has “soda.” Vinegar on soda would cause an effervescent reaction.

T4T ⇔ Singing to someone who is depressed just causes him to feel worse;
⇔ it is like [SIM] taking off clothes on a very cold day
⇔ or like putting vinegar on a wound.

LEB • Like one who removes a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on natron,[fn] is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.

25:? A mineral salt found on dry lake beds often used as a preservative.

BBE Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and like acid on a wound, is he who makes melody to a sad heart.

Moff Singing music to a saddened soul
⇔ is like dropping vinegar upon a wound.
¶ 

JPS As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.

ASV As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda,
⇔ So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.

DRA And one that looseth his garment in cold weather. As vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a very evil heart. As a moth doth by a garment, and a worm by the wood: so the sadness of a man consumeth the heart.

YLT Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.

Drby [As] he that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a sad heart.

RV As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
(As one that taketh/takes off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. )

SLT He removing a covering in the day of cold, and vinegar upon nitre, and he singing in songs to an evil heart.

Wbstr As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre; so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.

KJB-1769 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
(As he that taketh/takes away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. )

KJB-1611 As hee that taketh away a garment in cold weather; and as vineger vpon nitre; so is he that singeth songs to an heauy heart.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps Who so taketh away a mans garment in the colde weather, is like vineger vpon lime, or lyke hym that singeth songues to an heauie heart.
(Whoso/Whoever taketh/takes away a mans garment in the cold weather, is like vinegar upon lime, or like him that singeth songs to an heavy heart.)

Gnva Hee that taketh away the garment in the colde season, is like vineger powred vpon nitre, or like him that singeth songs to an heauy heart.
(He that taketh/takes away the garment in the cold season, is like vinegar poured upon nitre, or like him that singeth songs to an heavy heart. )

Cvdl Who so syngeth a songe to a wicked herte, clotheth hi with ragges in the colde, and poureth vyneger vpon chalke.
(Whoso/Whoever syngeth a song to a wicked heart, clotheth hi with ragges in the colde, and poureth/pours vyneger upon chalke.)

Wycl and leesith his mentil in the dai of coold. Vynegre in a vessel of salt is he, that singith songis to the worste herte. As a mouyte noieth a cloth, and a worm noieth a tree, so the sorewe of a man noieth the herte.
(and leesith his mantle in the day of coold. Vynegre in a vessel of salt is he, that singith songs to the worst heart. As a moth noieth a cloth, and a worm noieth a tree, so the sorrow of a man noieth the heart.)

Luth Wer einem bösen Herzen Lieder singet, das ist wie ein zerrissen Kleid im Winter und Essig auf der Kreide.
(Who on evil heart(s) songs sing, the is as/like a torn garment in_the Winter and vinegar on/in/to the/of_the Kreide.)

ClVg et amittit pallium in die frigoris. Acetum in nitro, qui cantat carmina cordi pessimo. Sicut tinea vestimento, et vermis ligno, ita tristitia viri nocet cordi.[fn]
(and loses cloak in/into/on day frigoris. Acetum in/into/on nitro, who/which cantat songs cordi very_bad/injure. Like moth clothing, and worm wood, so/thus sadness men nocet cordi. )

25.20 Acetum in nitro qui cantat. Nitrum a Nitria provincia, etc., usque ad sed aquam lavationi habilem reddit.

25.20 Acetum in/into/on nitro who/which cantat. Nitrum from Nitria province, etc., until to but water lavationi habilem returns.

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 25:1–29:27: This is Hezekiah’s collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the second collection of Solomon’s proverbs. These proverbs were organized and copied by men who served King Hezekiah. Most scholars divide this section into two groups. These groups differ in several ways.

The first group (chapters 25–27) has many more comparisons and admonitions. In Hebrew, most of these comparisons are metaphors in which one or more illustrations precede the topic. Some English versions change the order so that the topic precedes the illustration(s). You should follow the order that expresses the meaning naturally and effectively in your language.

In the first group, many proverbs are one verse long. As with the individual proverbs in the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs (Section 10:1–22:16), they are not related to the proverbs around them. Other proverbs in this group are two or more verses long. Still others are one-verse proverbs that are closely related in theme. Proverbs in all three categories will be marked as separate paragraphs.

The second group (chapters 28–29) has more contrastive proverbs. The proverbs in this group are each one verse long. They will not be marked as separate paragraphs.

Some other headings for this section are:

More Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

Proverbs of Solomon Collected by Hezekiah (NET)

These are also wise things that Solomon said

25:20

^20aLike one who removes a garment on a cold day

^20bor vinegar poured on a wound

^20cis one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

The topic of this proverb is a person who sings happy songs to someone who is sad (20c). Doing that is compared to a person who removes an outer garment on a cold day (20a) or a person who pours vinegar on a wound (20b). These actions are similar because:

They are inappropriate.
They cause pain or irritation.
They do not accomplish a useful purpose.
They only make the situation worse.

25:20a

Like one who removes a garment on a cold day

¶ If you^(sing) take off a person’s coat when it is cold weather
¶ A person who takes away someone’s cloak/blanket when he is cold only makes his situation worse.

Like one who removes a garment on a cold day: There is a textual issue here:

Most versions include this line. They connect it with 25:20b–c. These versions include: (BSB, ESV, GW, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJPS, NLT, RSV, GNT)
The NJB includes this line but connects it with the preceding proverb (25:19a–b).
Some versions omit this line. These versions include: (CEV, NRSV, REB)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with most versions and commentaries.The Hebrew consonants for this line are almost identical to the consonants of 25:19b. Some scholars think that scribes may have mistakenly copied the consonants and added different vowels, resulting in a different meaning. The HOTTP recommends (with considerable doubt) that this line be omitted (UBS, page 551). Longman (page 448) and Ross (page 1084) reject the idea that this line was mistakenly copied by dittography. Most commentaries include the line but do not specifically discuss this issue.

In Hebrew, this line is literally “[one who] removes a garment…” The Hebrew text does not specify whose garment is removed. There are different ways to interpret the meaning of this line:Many of the English versions are like the Hebrew text in that they have “a garment/coat.” The Notes have listed versions such as the NIV (“take away a garment”) with interpretation (1), because according to normal English usage, taking away one’s own garment wrongly implies taking it to a different location. Versions such as the ESV (“take off a garment”) have been listed with interpretation (2), because in normal English usage, taking off a garment implies one’s own garment unless a different referent is specified.

This line refers to a person who removes someone else’s garment. For example:
like taking someone’s coat in cold weather (NLT) (NCV, NIV, NLT, GNT)
This line refers to a person who removes his own garment. For example:
like one who takes off a garment on a cold day (ESV) (ESV, GW, NASB, NET, NJB, NJPS, RSV)

You may follow either interpretation. Both actions are inappropriate and make a person feel colder, whether oneself or someone else. The BSB translation is a literal translation of the Hebrew and allows for either interpretation. The Display will follow interpretation (1). It provides a better parallel to the topic of the comparison—singing songs to someone else (25:20c).

garment: In Hebrew, this word can refer to any kind of clothing. In the context of cold weather, it probably refers to an outer garment, such as a robe, cloak, or coat.

25:20a–c

(combined/reordered)

¶ If you^(sing) sing to a person who is discouraged/depressed, it is as irritating/bad as if you took away his coat/garment on a cold day or rubbed salt on a/his wound.

25:20b

or vinegar poured on a wound

or you^(sing) pour vinegar into a wound, what is the result?
A person who treats someone’s wound with vinegar increases his pain.

or vinegar poured on a wound: There is a textual issue here:

The LXX has “vinegar on a wound.” For example:
pouring vinegar on a wound (NJB) (BSB, CEV, NIV11, NJB, NLT, NRSV, REB, GNT)
The MT, Vulgate, and Targum have “vinegar on soda.” For example:
vinegar poured on soda (NIV) (ESV, GW, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJPS)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). The irritating effect of vinegar on a wound is easy to understand and fits well with 25:20a. Many language groups do not have a word for “soda” (sodium carbonate) and are not familiar with its uses. Moreover, scholars do not agree on the effect of vinegar on soda.Scholars who support option (1) include Waltke, McKane, UBS, Toy, and Murphy. Some of the differing opinions in support of option (2) are that vinegar “spoils” soda (Cook, page 70), makes soda bubble and is “perturbing” (Hubbard, page 414), neutralizes soda, so it would be “counterproductive” (Ross, page 1084), causes a “violent” reaction (Longman, page 456), and makes it “sizzle, as if the acid and base were in conflict” (Fox, page 786).

Some other ways to translate option (1) are:

Make explicit a point of similarity. For example:
as irritating as pouring vinegar in a wound
Use a cultural substitute. For example:
like rubbing salt in a wound (GNT)

25:20cThere is a textual issue here. The Masoretic Text has “one who sings with songs to a sad heart.” The LXX, Syriac, and Targum have “Just as a moth on a garment and a worm to a tree, so a man’s pain damages the heart. The NRSV adds these lines to 25:20a–b. The NAB replaces 25:20a–b with these lines. All other versions follow the MT.

is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

If you^(sing) sing songs to a person who feels sad, the result is the same.
Similarly, a person who sings cheerfully to someone who is very discouraged will cause his sorrow to increase.

is one who sings songs to a heavy heart: It is implied here that the person cheerfully sings happy songs. For example:

Singing cheerful songs (NLT)

The phrase a heavy heart is a figure of speech. It represents a person who is discouraged, sad, or depressed. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

a sorrowing heart (NJB)

a person who is depressed (GNT)

someone who is sad (NCV)

General Comment on 25:20a–c

In some languages it may be more natural to put the topic of the comparison before the two illustrations. For example:

Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound. (NLT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

מַ֥עֲדֶה בֶּ֨גֶד ׀ בְּ⁠י֣וֹם קָ֭רָה חֹ֣מֶץ עַל־נָ֑תֶר וְ⁠שָׁ֥ר בַּ֝⁠שִּׁרִ֗ים עַ֣ל לֶב־רָֽע

takes_off garment in/on=day cold vinegar on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in soda and,[one_who]_sings (with,songs on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in heart_of heavy

If it would be helpful in your language, you could change the order of these clauses. Alternate translation: “One who sings with songs to a heart of misery is like one who removes a garment on a cold day, vinegar on natron”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

מַ֥עֲדֶה בֶּ֨גֶד & וְ⁠שָׁ֥ר & לֶב־רָֽע

takes_off garment & and,[one_who]_sings & heart_of heavy

One who removes a garment, one who sings, and a heart of misery refer to types of people and hearts in general, not specific people or a specific heart. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “Any person who removes a garment … so is any person who sings … any heart of misery”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

מַ֥עֲדֶה בֶּ֨גֶד

takes_off garment

Here Solomon implies that a garment is removed from someone’s body. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “One who removes a garment from someone’s body”

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

חֹ֣מֶץ עַל־נָ֑תֶר

vinegar on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in soda

The words vinegar and natron refer to things that cause a violent chemical reaction when they are mixed. Therefore, this clause refers to two things that should not be put together. If your readers would not be familiar with these two materials, you could use the names of similar things in your are, or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: “chemicals that don’t mix well with each other”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

וְ⁠שָׁ֥ר בַּ֝⁠שִּׁרִ֗ים עַ֣ל לֶב־רָֽע

and,[one_who]_sings (with,songs on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in heart_of heavy

Solomon is saying that one who sings with songs to a heart of misery is like One who removes a garment on a cold day and like vinegar on natron, because all of these are inappropriate and unhelpful when put together. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “so also is one who sings with songs to a heart of misery inappropriate”

Note 6 topic: writing-poetry

וְ⁠שָׁ֥ר בַּ֝⁠שִּׁרִ֗ים

and,[one_who]_sings (with,songs

Here, sings with songs is an emphatic construction that uses a verb and its object that come from the same root. You may be able to use the same construction in your language to express the meaning here. Alternatively, your language may have another way of showing the emphasis.

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

לֶב־רָֽע

heart_of heavy

Here Solomon is using the possessive form to describe a heart that is characterized by misery. If your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: “a miserable heart”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

לֶב

heart_of