PROV 25:22 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=vital (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, green:YHWH.
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 Τοῦτο γὰρ ποιῶν ἄνθρακας πυρὸς σωρεύσεις ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ, ὁ δὲ Κύριος ἀνταποδώσει σοι ἀγαθά.
(Touto gar poiōn anthrakas puros sōreuseis epi taʸn kefalaʸn autou, ho de Kurios antapodōsei soi agatha. )

BrTr for so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee with good.

UST Do so because by doing so you will shame them, as if you were pouring burning coals on top of them,
⇔ and Yahweh will reward you for doing so.

25:22 LXX; Hebrew For you will heap burning coals on his head; cited in Romans 12:20

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE for you will heap coals of fire on his head,
⇔ and the LORD will reward you.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET for you will heap coals of fire on his head,
⇔ and the Lord will reward you.

LSV For you are putting coals on his head,
And YHWH gives repayment to you.

FBV This will make him ashamed as if he had burning coals piled on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

T4T doing that will cause them to feel ashamed [IDM],
⇔ and Yahweh will reward you for doing that.

LEB • For coals of fire you will heap upon his head, and Yahweh will reward you.

BBE For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will give you your reward.

Moff for so you shall quench blazing passions,
⇔ and the Eternal will reward you.

JPS For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD will reward thee.

ASV For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head,
⇔ And Jehovah will reward thee.

DRA For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will reward thee.

YLT For coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee.

Drby for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and Jehovah shall reward thee.

RV For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
(For thou/you shalt/shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee/you. )

SLT For thou tookest up coals of fire upon his head, and Jehovah will recompense to thee.

Wbstr For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD will reward thee.

KJB-1769 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
(For thou/you shalt/shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee/you. )

KJB-1611 For thou shalt heape coales of fire vpon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps For so shalt thou heape coles of fire vpon his head, and the Lorde shall rewarde thee.
(For so shalt/shall thou/you heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee/you.)

Gnva For thou shalt lay coles vpon his head, and the Lord shall recompense thee.
(For thou/you shalt/shall lay coals upon his head, and the Lord shall recompense thee/you. )

Cvdl for so shalt thou heape coales offyre vpo his heade, and the LORDE shal rewarde the.
(for so shalt/shall thou/you heap coals offyre upon his head, and the LORD shall reward them.)

Wycl for thou schalt gadere togidere coolis on his heed; and the Lord schal yelde to thee.
(for thou/you shalt/shall gather together coals on his heed; and the Lord shall yield to thee/you.)

Luth Denn du wirst Kohlen auf sein Haupt häufen; und der HErr wird dir‘s vergelten.
(Because you(sg) will coal on/in/to be head accumulate; and the/of_the LORD becomes it's_yours(sg) retaliate.)

ClVg prunas enim congregabis super caput ejus, et Dominus reddet tibi.[fn]
(prunas because congregabis over the_head his, and Master will_return to_you. )

25.22 Prunas enim congregabis, id est, ardorem charitatis. Non enim doceret sapientia, ut bona inimico, mali causa, faceres. Fit enim sæpe ut inimicus crebris victus beneficiis, odii ponat rigorem, et calorem charitatis menti apponat. Ventus aquilo. Si hilari vultu audieris detrahentem, tu illi das fomitem detrahendi. Si vero tristi, ut ait quidam, discit non libenter dicere, quod didicerit non libenter audire.

25.22 Prunas because congregabis, that it_is, ardour/enthusiasm of_charity. Not/No because to_teacht wisdom, as good(s) inimico, evil cause, to_dos. Fit because often as the_enemy crebris victus benefits, I_hate put rigorem, and calorem of_charity menti apponat. Ventus to_the_north. When/But_if hilari face you_will_be_heard take_awayntem, you(sg) them you_give fomitem take_awayndi. When/But_if indeed/however tristi, as he_said some, discit not/no willingly to_say, that didicerit not/no willingly to_hear.

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

Paragraph 25:21–22

The first verse of this proverb advises the reader to treat an enemy in need with kindness. The second verse gives two reasons or motivations for heeding this advice.

25:22a

For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head,

If you^(sing) do that, his shame will be intense. It will be as if you have piled hot coals on his head.
For if you show them kindness like this, you will cause them to be ashamed of being your enemy.

The first reason or motivation for following the advice in 25:21 is that it has an effect on the enemy. The second reason is that it results in God’s reward for the person who shows kindness.

^22aFor in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head,

^22band the LORD will reward you.

For in so doing: In Hebrew, this verse begins with a word the BSB translates as “for” because it introduces the reasons or motivations for obeying the advice in 25:21. Other versions, such as the NIV, omit the word “for.” They express the effect of the kind deed in other ways. For example:

In this way… (GW)

Still other versions leave the reason implied. For example:

You will heap… (NLT)

Translate this reason/motivation in a natural way in your language.

you will heap burning coals on his head: This clause is a metaphor. It compares the pain of a guilty conscience to the burning effect of red-hot coals. It means that the person who shows kindness to an enemy causes the enemy to feel bitter regret and shame.

In many languages, a literal translation of this metaphor will not be understood correctly. Some other ways to translate it are:

Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
This will be the same as piling burning coals on their heads (CEV)
Keep the idea of burning, but make it clear that it is used figuratively. For example:
You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads (NLT)
You will make them burn with shame (GNT) You should use this option only if the words “burn/burning” and “shame” fit together understandably in your language.
Translate the meaning directly. Then add the figure of speech. For example:
You will cause him remorse and shame. It is like you have piled live/hot coals on his head.
Translate the meaning directly. Do not translate the figure of speech. For example:
you will make him feel guilty and ashamed (GW)

25:22b

and the LORD will reward you.

As for you,^(sing) Yahweh will reward you.
and Yahweh will reward you for your kindness.

and the LORD will reward you: It is implied that the LORD will give this reward because the person showed kindness to his enemy instead of hatred.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

גֶֽחָלִ֗ים אַ֭תָּה חֹתֶ֣ה עַל־רֹאשׁ֑⁠וֹ

burning_coals you(ms) heap on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in his/its=head

Here, heaping coals on his head is an idiom that most likely refers to causing that person to feel ashamed. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: “cause him to feel ashamed for what he has done” or “you make him feel ashamed, as if you were heaping coals on his head”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יְשַׁלֶּם־לָֽ⁠ךְ

reward to/for=you(fs)

See how you translated the same use of repay in [19:17](../19/17.md).

Parallel PROV 25:22

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

Paragraph 25:21–22

25:22a

25:22b