PROV 29:2 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 Ἐγκωμιαζομένων δικαίων εὐφρανθήσονται λαοὶ, ἀρχόντων δὲ ἀσεβῶν στένουσιν ἄνδρες.
(Egkōmiazomenōn dikaiōn eufranthaʸsontai laoi, arⱪontōn de asebōn stenousin andres. )

BrTr When the righteous are praised, the people will rejoice: but when the ungodly rule, men mourn.

ULT When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
⇔ but when a wicked one rules, a people groans.

UST People are joyful when righteous people become influential,
⇔ but people are miserable when wicked people rule over them.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;
⇔ but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET When the righteous become numerous, the people rejoice;
⇔ when the wicked rule, the people groan.

LSV In the multiplying of the righteous the people rejoice,
And in the ruling of the wicked the people sigh.

FBV When good people are in charge, everybody celebrates; but when the wicked rule, everybody groans.

T4T ⇔ When righteous people are rulers, people are happy,
⇔ but when wicked people rule, people ◄groan/are miserable►.

LEB • When the righteous are numerous, the people will rejoice, but when the wicked are ruling, people will groan.

BBE When the upright have power, the people are glad; when an evil man is ruler, grief comes on the people.

Moff When good men are in power, people rejoice;
⇔ but when a bad man rules, the people groan.

JPS When the righteous are increased, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people sigh.

ASV When the righteous are increased, the people rejoice;
⇔ But when a wicked man beareth rule, the people sigh.

DRA When just men increase, the people shall rejoice: when the wicked shall bear rule, the people shall mourn.

YLT In the multiplying of the righteous the people rejoice, And in the ruling of the wicked the people sigh.

Drby When the righteous increase, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

RV When the righteous are increased, the people rejoice: but when a wicked man beareth rule, the people sigh.
(When the righteous are increased, the people rejoice: but when a wicked man beareth/bears rule, the people sigh. )

SLT In the increasing of the just the people will rejoice: and in the ruling of the unjust one the people will groan.

Wbstr When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

KJB-1769 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. [fn]
(When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth/bears rule, the people mourn. )

29.2 in…: or, increased

KJB-1611 [fn]When the righteous are in authoritie, the people reioyce: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourne.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above apart from footnotes)

29:2 Or, increased.

Bshps When the ryghteous are in aucthoritie the people do reioyce: but when the wicked beare rule, the people mourne.
(When the righteous are in authority the people do rejoice: but when the wicked bear rule, the people mourn.)

Gnva When the righteous are in authoritie, the people reioyce: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people sigh.
(When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth/bears rule, the people sigh. )

Cvdl Where ye rightuous haue the ouer hande, ye people are in prosperite: but where the vngodly beareth rule, there ye people mourne.
(Where ye/you_all righteous have the over hand, ye/you_all people are in prosperity: but where the ungodly beareth/bears rule, there ye/you_all people mourn.)

Wycl The comynalte schal be glad in the multipliyng of iust men; whanne wickid men han take prinshod, the puple schal weyle.
(The commonalte shall be glad in the multipliing of just men; when wicked men have take prinshod, the people shall weyle.)

Luth Wenn der Gerechten viel ist, freuet sich das Volk; wenn aber der GOttlose herrschet, seufzet das Volk.
(When the/of_the righteous_(ones) many is, is_happy itself/yourself/themselves the people; when but the/of_the godless_(ones) prevails, sighs(v) the people.)

ClVg In multiplicatione justorum lætabitur vulgus; cum impii sumpserint principatum, gemet populus.
(In multipliesione of_the_righteous he_will_rejoice common_people; when/with wicked sumpserint principality, gemet the_people. )

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

29:2

This proverb contrasts the reactions of the common people (parts in bold print) when different groups within the town or country are able to influence what happens (underlined parts).

^2a When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice,

^2b but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

29:2a

When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice,

When righteous people increase in number, the inhabitants of a town/country rejoice.
When people who do what is right become many, everyone is happy/glad.

When the righteous flourish: There are at least three ways to interpret this phrase:According to Waltke (p. 399), versions such as the KJV, NRSV, and REB have emended birbot “increase” to birdot “rule.” Toy (p. 507) advocates this change. Kidner (p. 173) opposes it. The Notes treat this an interpretation issue rather than a textual issue, since none of the eight versions listed under interpretation (2) provide a textual note, even though they do in other verses. Nor does UBS comment on any HOTTP recommendation, as it usually does in textual matters. In addition, “increase in power” is one of the meanings of this Hebrew word as well as the related word yirbu in 28:28b.

The righteous increase in number. For example:
When the righteous become numerous (NET) (ESV, GW, NASB, NET, NJB)
The righteous increase in influence and power. For example:
When the righteous are in authority (NRSV) (CEV, KJV, NAB, NJPS, NLT, NRSV, REB, GNT)
The righteous increase in prosperity. For example:
When good people do well (NCV) (BSB, NCV, NIV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This interpretation allows a consistent translation of the similar forms of the same Hebrew word in 28:28b, 29:2a, and 29:16a–b. See the notes on “the righteous flourish” in 28:28b.

However, interpretation (2) is also acceptable. The contrast with “the wicked rule” in 29:2b strongly implies that the righteous increase in influence and power as well as in number. If there is a word or phrase in your language that includes both of these ideas, it would be very acceptable to use it here. For example:

righteous people become many and their power increases

Another option is to add a footnote to help your readers understand the implied meaning. A suggested footnote is:

This verse implies that when the number of righteous people increases, their power also increases. See Proverbs 28:28b and 29:16a. These verses are also about people who increase in number and power.

See how you translated the same phrase in 28:28b.The form of the Hebrew word used here (birbot) is slightly different from the form used in 28:28b (yirbu), but it has the same meaning.

the people rejoice: Another way to translate this clause is:

everyone is happy (NCV)

29:2b

but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

When wicked people rule, the inhabitants groan in their distress/sadness.
But when people who do what is wrong become the leaders, everyone is miserable.

when the wicked rule: This clause describes a situation in which wicked people are in a position of power or authority. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

when the wicked are in power (NJB)

but when the wicked dominate (NJPS)

the people groan: The word groan refers here to a sound made by people who are miserable. They suffer physical and emotional distress because of the oppression of their wicked rulers. In some languages, it may be clearer to make explicit the cause of their sighing or groaning. For example:

the people are miserable

the people sigh in their distress

General Comment on 29:2a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of the two clauses in either or both lines. For example:

^2aThe citizens of a country are happy when righteous people increase in number and influence.

^2bbut they groan when the wicked hold sway. (REB)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בִּ⁠רְב֣וֹת צַ֭דִּיקִים

when,increase righteous

Here, increase could refer to: (1) the amount of righteous ones increasing. Alternate translation: “When righteous ones increase in number” or “When righteous ones multiply greatly” (2) the righteous ones increasing their power or authority. Alternate translation: “When righteous ones increase in power” or “When righteous ones become more powerful”

Note 2 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

הָ⁠עָ֑ם & עָֽם

the,people & people

In this verse, the word people is singular in form, but it refers to multiple people as a group. See how you translated the same use of people in [11:14](../11/14.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

רָ֝שָׁ֗ע

wicked

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

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

יֵאָ֥נַֽח

groan

Here, groans refers to the sound people make to express that they are miserable, which is the opposite of rejoice in the previous clause. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “groans in misery”

Parallel PROV 29:2

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

29:2

29:2a

29:2b

General Comment on 29:2a–b