PROV 25:26 Parallel Verse View

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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 Ὥσπερ εἴ τις πηγὴν φράσσοι καὶ ὕδατος ἔξοδον λυμαίνοιτο, οὕτως ἄκοσμον δίκαιον πεπτωκέναι ἐνώπιον ἀσεβοῦς.
(Hōsper ei tis paʸgaʸn frassoi kai hudatos exodon lumainoito, houtōs akosmon dikaion peptōkenai enōpion asebous. )

BrTr As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so is it unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man.

ULT A spring muddied by trampling and a fountain spoiled
⇔ is a righteous one swaying to the face of a wicked one.

UST When righteous people yield to wicked people,
⇔ it is as bad as a spring that people have made murky by walking in it or as bad as a polluted fountain.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE Like a muddied spring and a polluted well,
⇔ so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Like a muddied spring and a polluted well,
⇔ so is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked.

LSV A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt,
[Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.

FBV Good people who give in to the wicked are like a muddied spring or a polluted well.

T4T ⇔ When a righteous/good person ◄gives in/yields► to wicked people,
⇔ that is as bad as [SIM] a spring that becomes muddied or a fountain that becomes polluted.

LEB • Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is the righteous who gives way before the wicked.

BBE Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an upright man who has to give way before evil-doers.

Moff A fountain fouled, a spring bemired--
⇔ so is a good man yielding to the wicked.

JPS As a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, so is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.

ASV As a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring,
⇔ So is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.

DRA A just man falling down before the wicked, is as a fountain troubled with the foot, and a corrupted spring.

YLT A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.

Drby A troubled fountain, and a defiled well, is a righteous [man] that giveth way before the wicked.

RV As a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, so is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
(As a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, so is a righteous man that giveth/gives way before the wicked. )

SLT A fountain trampled down, and a fountain corrupted, the just one turned aside before the unjust one.

Wbstr A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a turbid fountain, and a corrupt spring.

KJB-1769 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

KJB-1611 A righteous man falling downe before the wicked, is as a troubled fountaine, aud a corrupt spring.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps A righteous man fallyng downe before the vngodly, is like a troubled wel, and a spring that is corrupted.
(A righteous man falling down before the ungodly, is like a troubled well, and a spring that is corrupted.)

Gnva A righteous man falling downe before the wicked, is like a troubled well, and a corrupt spring.
(A righteous man falling down before the wicked, is like a troubled well, and a corrupt spring. )

Cvdl A righteous man fallynge downe before the vngodly, is like a troubled well and a sprynge yt is destroyed.
(A righteous man falling down before the ungodly, is like a troubled well and a spring it is destroyed.)

Wycl A welle disturblid with foot, and a veyne brokun, a iust man fallinge bifore a wickid man.
(A well disturbed with foot, and a vain broken, a just man falling before a wicked man.)

Luth Ein Gerechter, der vor einem GOttlosen fällt, ist wie ein trüber Brunnen und verderbte Quelle.
(A righteous_(one), the/of_the before/in_front_of on godless_one(s) falls, is as/like a cloudyr spring(n) and corruptede source/spring(n).)

ClVg Fons turbatus pede et vena corrupta, justus cadens coram impio.[fn]
(Fons troubled foot and vena corrupted, just falling before impious/ungodly. )

25.26 Fons turbatus. Evenit sæpe, ut qui majori præditi scientia fulgebant, ad ultimum plus volentes sapere quam fragilitati humanæ concessum est, in insipientiæ foveam decidant, unde adjungit:

25.26 Fons troubled. Evenit often, as who/which older beforediti knowledge/skill fulgebant, to last plus volentes to_be_wise how fragilitati human concessum it_is, in/into/on insipientiæ pit decidant, from_where/who adjoins:

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

25:26

The topic of this proverb is a righteous person who yields to pressure or bad advice from a wicked person (25:26b). He is compared to a spring or well that no longer provides clean water (25:26a).

^26aLike a muddied spring or a polluted well

^26bis a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

The similarity between the topic and the illustrations is that:

Their good quality and usefulness has been destroyed by something bad.
They no longer serve their normal function.
Both cause severe disappointment and danger for people who depend on them.

25:26a

Like a muddied spring or a polluted well

¶ What is like a spring that has become muddy or a well that has been polluted/ruined?
¶ When we^(incl) see a spring that animals have trampled or a well that no longer has clean water, what can we compare it to?

Like a muddied spring or a polluted well: These phrases both refer to a source of fresh, flowing water that has been ruined. The water is no longer drinkable.

a muddied spring: In Hebrew, the word spring refers to the source of streams and rivers.NIDOTTE (H5078). (The same word occurs in 5:16a and 8:24b.) A muddied spring is one that has been trampled, perhaps by animals. As a result, the normally clean water has been dirtied by mud or other debris.NIDOTTE (H8346), Ross (page 1086). Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

a churned-up spring (NJB)

a trampled spring (NASB)

a polluted spring (GNT)

a polluted well: In Hebrew, the word that the BSB translates here as polluted means “spoiled” or “ruined” in some way.NIDOTTE (H8845), UBS (page 554). In the context of a source of fresh water, it may refer here to a well whose sides have collapsed. As a result, people can no longer get the water or else the water has become undrinkable.Cohen (page 172).

well: In Hebrew, the word that the BSB translates here as well has almost the same meaning as the word “spring.” Elsewhere in Proverbs, the BSB translates it as “fountain.”NIDOTTE (H5227). The other references in Proverbs are 5:18, 10:11, 13:14; 14:27, 16:22, and 18:4. A different Hebrew word is used for “well” in 5:15b and 23:27b.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

a dirty well (NCV)

a polluted spring (NAB)

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine the two phrases. For example:

it’s like dumping garbage in a stream of clear water (CEV)

25:26a–b

(combined/reordered)

¶ A person who obeys the law of Yahweh but then is defeated by evil is like a source of water that is now filled with mud/rubbish.
¶ When a righteous person yields to what a wicked person wants, his reputation/usefulness is ruined. He is like a spring of clean water that has been muddied/trampled or like a well whose sides have collapsed.

25:26b

is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

It is a righteous person who gives in to the advice/desires of wicked people.
It is like a person who consistently does what is right, but then he stops fighting evil and allows it to win.

is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked: The Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates here as gives way to is literally “staggers/sways before.”NIDOTTE (H4572), HALOT (#4883), Longman (page 459). Here it refers figuratively to a righteous person who yields to or compromises with the words or actions of wicked people.The NJB has “trembling before,” which implies fear. In some way, he allows them to succeed. As a result, his own character and influence are ruined.

This line could refer to more than one situation. It could indicate that:

The righteous person yields to the temptation to do wrong himself.
The righteous person allows someone else to do wrong.
The righteous person is forced out of a position of influence.

Try to translate in a way that will allow any of these situations to be understood. For example:

a righteous person who gives in to a wicked person (GW)

a righteous person who cannot defeat the plans of evil people

If you have to be more specific, it is recommended that you describe the first situation.Scholars who support situation (1) include UBS, Waltke, Delitzsch, Cohen, Kidner, and Garrett. Those who support situation (2) include Hubbard and probably McKane and Scott. Those who support situation (3) include Whybray, Longman, Toy, and Ross. It fits better with the illustration of a spring or well that used to have clean water and is now polluted.

General Comment on 25:26a–b

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

A good person who gives in to evil is like a muddy spring or a dirty well. (NCV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

מַעְיָ֣ן נִ֭רְפָּשׂ וּ⁠מָק֣וֹר מָשְׁחָ֑ת צַ֝דִּ֗יק מָ֣ט לִ⁠פְנֵֽי־רָשָֽׁע

spring muddied and,a_fountain polluted law-abiding/just gives_way to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before wicked

If it would be helpful in your language, you could reverse the order of these clauses. Alternate translation: “A righteous one swaying before the face of a wicked one is a spring muddied by trampling and a fountain spoiled”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

מַעְיָ֣ן נִ֭רְפָּשׂ וּ⁠מָק֣וֹר מָשְׁחָ֑ת

spring muddied and,a_fountain polluted

In this verse, Solomon speaks of a righteous one swaying before the face of a wicked one being bad as if that person were A spring muddied by trampling and a fountain spoiled. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: “Very bad” or “Like a spring muddied by trampling and a fountain spoiled”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

מַעְיָ֣ן נִ֭רְפָּשׂ וּ⁠מָק֣וֹר מָשְׁחָ֑ת

spring muddied and,a_fountain polluted

If your language does not use these passive forms, you could express the ideas in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “A spring someone muddied by trampling and a fountain someone spoiled”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

צַ֝דִּ֗יק & רָשָֽׁע

law-abiding/just & wicked

See how you translated a righteous one in [9:9](../09/09.md) and a wicked one in [9:7](../09/07.md).

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

מָ֣ט

gives_way

Here, swaying refers to a righteous one yielding to the influence of a wicked one. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “who yields” or “who gives in”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לִ⁠פְנֵֽי

to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before