PROV 29:18 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, red:negative.
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 Οὐ μὴ ὑπάρξῃ ἐξηγητὴς ἔθνει παρανόμῳ, ὁ δὲ φυλάσσων τὸν νόμον μακαριστός.
(Ou maʸ huparxaʸ exaʸgaʸtaʸs ethnei paranomōi, ho de fulassōn ton nomon makaristos. )

BrTr There shall be no interpreter to a sinful nation: but he that observes the law is [fn]blessed.

ULT When there is no vision, the people are let loose,
⇔ but one keeping the law, happy is he.

UST When the people of a nation do not have messages from Yahweh through his prophets, then they do not control themselves,
⇔ but people who obey Yahweh’s laws are happy.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
⇔ but one who keeps the law is blessed.

WMBB Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
⇔ but one who keeps the Torah is blessed.

NET When there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,
⇔ but the one who keeps the law, blessed is he!

LSV A people is made naked without a vision,
And whoever is keeping the Law, O his blessedness!

FBV Without a revelation from God, the people go out of control, but those who keep the law are happy.

T4T ⇔ When the people of a nation do not receive messages that come directly from God, they do not control their behavior.
⇔ God is pleased with those who obey his laws.

LEB • When there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint, but as for he who guards instruction, happiness is his.

BBE Where there is no vision, the people are uncontrolled; but he who keeps the law will be happy.

Moff People break loose without a guiding hand,
⇔ but happy are the law-abiding!
¶ 

JPS Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

ASV Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint;
⇔ But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

DRA When prophecy shall fail, the people shall be scattered abroad: but he that keepeth the law is blessed.

YLT Without a Vision is a people made naked, And whoso is keeping the law, O his happiness!

Drby Where there is no vision the people cast off restraint; but happy is he that keepeth the law.

RV Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
(Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint: but he that keepeth/keeps the law, happy is he. )

SLT In no vision the people shall be unruly: and he watching the law, happy is he.

Wbstr Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

KJB-1769 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.[fn]
(Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth/keeps the law, happy is he. )

29.18 perish: or, is made naked

KJB-1611 [fn]Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the Law, happy is he.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and footnotes)

29:18 Or, is made naked.

Bshps When the worde of God is not preached, the people perishe: but well is hym that kepeth the lawe.
(When the word of God is not preached, the people perish: but well is him that keepeth/keeps the law.)

Gnva Where there is no vision, the people decay: but he that keepeth the Lawe, is blessed.
(Where there is no vision, the people decay: but he that keepeth/keeps the Law, is blessed. )

Cvdl Where no prophet is, there the people perishe: but well is him that kepeth the lawe.
(Where no prophet is, there the people perish: but well is him that keepeth/keeps the law.)

Wycl Whanne prophesie faylith, the puple schal be distried; but he that kepith the lawe, is blessid.
(When prophesy faileth/fails, the people shall be destroyed; but he that keepeth/keeps the law, is blessed.)

Luth Wenn die Weissagung aus ist, wird das Volk wild und wüst; wohl aber dem, der das Gesetz handhabet!
(When the prophecy(n) out_of is, becomes the people wild and desolate/terrible; probably/well but to_him, the/of_the the law handled!)

ClVg Cum prophetia defecerit, dissipabitur populus; qui vero custodit legem beatus est.[fn]
(Since prophecy defecerit, dissipabitur the_people; who/which indeed/however keeps/guards the_law happy/blessed it_is. )

29.18 Cum prophetia. Cum sacerdotis eruditio cessaverit, solvetur continuo disciplina divinæ legis: qua populus ad beatitudinis præmia pertingere debuerat.

29.18 Since prophecy. Since of_the_priest education cessaverit, solvetur continuously discipline divine law: which the_people to of_happiness prizes pertingere debuerat.

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

29:18

The first line of this proverb describes the disorder that occurs within a group of people if they receive no inspired message from the LORD. In contrast, the second line describes the happiness of a person who obeys what the LORD teaches in his Word.

^18aWhere there is no vision, the people cast off restraint;

^18bbut blessed is he who keeps the Law.

Most English versions follow the BSB clause order for the second line. In Hebrew, the clauses occur in the opposite order. For example:

^18bbut the one who keeps the law, blessed is he (NET)

Use a natural clause order in your language.

29:18a

Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint;

When there is no prophecy/teaching that Yahweh makes known to the people of a nation, they will be disorderly and commit many crimes.
If God does not cause one of his spokesmen/prophets to speak his words to the people, they will not control themselves.

Where there is no vision: There are two main ways to interpret the word vision:

It refers specifically to a vision or prophecy that God reveals or makes known to one of his prophets. For example:
Where there is no prophetic vision (ESV)
Where there is no revelation (NIV) (BSB, ESV, GW, KJV, NAB, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NRSV)
It refers generally to guidance from God. For example:
A nation without God’s guidance (GNT) (CEV, NLT, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions and scholars.Scholars who support this interpretation of ḥazon include Fox, Whybray, Delitzsch, Ross, Hubbard, Cohen, Kidner, Murphy, and McKane. In the OT, God guided his people in various ways, including the Urim and Thummim as well as kings and judges. The Hebrew word used here is more specific. It refers everywhere else to an inspired message, vision, or prophecy that God communicated through one of his spokesmen. These inspired messages sometimes predicted future events and sometimes instructed, rebuked, or warned the people.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Without prophetic vision (GW)

Where there is no word from God (NCV)

If there is nothing that God makes known to his spokesman/prophet

the people cast off restraint: This clause describes the unruly or disorderly behavior that results when a nation or other group of people lacks the authoritative influence of an inspired prophecy. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

people are uncontrolled (NCV)

the people of the country do all kinds of bad things

29:18b

but blessed is he who keeps the Law.

But happy is the person who obeys/follows what Yahweh teaches in his Word.
But those who heed what wise people have taught them are truly happy.

(ESV) but blessed is he who keeps the law: In Hebrew, the word blessed here means “happy.”

the law: In Proverbs, the Hebrew word that the BSB translates here as law refers to the moral advice or teaching of personified wisdom, wise parents, or other wise teachers. In the overall context of Proverbs, it is implied that this teaching is based on the OT Scriptures, so ultimately, it comes from the LORD. However, in this verse, the person who does the teaching is not specified. See the notes on “the law” in 28:4. Also see how you translated “law” (same Hebrew word) in 28:7.

Some ways to translate this clause are:

Leave the source of the teaching implied. For example:
but happy is he who keeps the law (NASB)
but those who obey what they have been taught are happy (NCV)
Make the source of the teaching explicit. For example:
Happy are those who keep God’s law! (GNT)
but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction (NIV11)
But happy is the person who heeds what the LORD teaches in his Word.

Translate in a way that clearly refers to moral advice. This verse does not refer to secular teaching in a school or to the regulations of a local government.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

חָ֭זוֹן

vision

Here, vision refers specifically to information that Yahweh reveals to prophets so that they can tell it to the people. It is also called prophecy or divine revelation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “prophecy” or “revelation”

Note 2 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

עָ֑ם

people

See how you translated the same use of people in [11:14](../11/14.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יִפָּ֣רַֽע

throw_off_restraint

Here Solomon refers to people acting disorderly or uncontrollably, as if they were let loose from being restrained. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “act disorderly” or “are out of control”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

וְ⁠שֹׁמֵ֖ר תּוֹרָ֣ה אַשְׁרֵֽ⁠הוּ

and,[one_who]_keeps law blessed_[is]_he_of,how

Here, one who keeps and he refer to a type of person in general, not a specific person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “but any person who keeps the law, happy is that person”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠שֹׁמֵ֖ר תּוֹרָ֣ה

and,[one_who]_keeps law

See how you translated the similar phrase “keep the law” in [28:4](../28/04.md).

Parallel PROV 29:18

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

29:18

29:18a

29:18b