PROV 8:2 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 Ἐπὶ γὰρ τῶν ὑψηλῶν ἄκρων ἐστὶν, ἀναμέσον δὲ τῶν τρίβων ἕστηκε.
(Epi gar tōn hupsaʸlōn akrōn estin, anameson de tōn tribōn hestaʸke. )

ULT At the head of the heights beside the road,
⇔ the house of the paths, she stations herself.

UST Imagine that this woman stands at the highest place next to the crowded crossroads where everyone can hear her.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE On the top of high places by the way,
⇔ where the paths meet, she stands.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET At the top of the elevated places along the way,
⇔ at the intersection of the paths she takes her stand;

LSV At the head of high places by the way,
She has stood between the paths,

FBV On the top of the hill by the road, she stands up at the crossroads.

T4T Wisdom stands on hilltops and at crossroads.

LEB • Atop the heights[fn] beside the road, at the crossroads she stands.

8:? Literally “At a head of the heights”

BBE At the top of the highways, at the meeting of the roads, she takes her place;

Moff On the high ground by the roadside,
⇔ in the streets she takes her stand,

JPS In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;

ASV On the top of high places by the way,
⇔ Where the paths meet, she standeth;

DRA Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths.

YLT At the head of high places by the way, Between the paths she hath stood,

Drby On the top of high places by the way, at the cross-paths she taketh her stand.

RV In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;
(In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth/stands; )

SLT She stood upon the head of the heights, upon the way of the house of the beaten paths.

Wbstr She standeth on the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

KJB-1769 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
(She standeth/stands in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. )

KJB-1611 Shee standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the pathes.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the place of the pathes:
(She standeth/stands in the top of high places, by the way in the place of the paths:)

Gnva She standeth in the top of the high places by the way in the place of the paths.
(She standeth/stands in the top of the high places by the way in the place of the paths. )

Cvdl Stondeth she not in the hye places in the stretes & wayes?
(Standeth/Stands she not in the high places in the streets and ways?)

Wycl In souereyneste and hiy coppis, aboue the weie, in the myddis of pathis,
(In sovereignste and high coppis, above the way, in the midst of paths,)

Luth Öffentlich am Wege und an der Straße stehet sie.
(Public in/at/on_the ways and at/to the/of_the road stands they/she/them.)

ClVg In summis excelsisque verticibus supra viam, in mediis semitis stans,[fn]
(In the_highest and_high peaks/vertices above way/road, in/into/on by_means paths standing, )

8.2 In summis, etc. In monte discipulos simul et turbas docuit, etc, usque ad qui contra eum in occulto loquuntur?

8.2 In the_highest, etc. In mountain disciples at_the_same_time and crowds taught, etc, until to who/which on_the_contrary him in/into/on hide they_speak?

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

Speaking

As children we probably heard, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Scripture presents another viewpoint: Words have the power of life and death (18:21). The words contained in lies (14:5, 25), arguments (26:17), insults (20:20), slander (10:18), gossip (11:13), rumors (18:8), flattery (7:21-22), and bragging (26:23; 27:2) can all be death-dealing.

Proverbs repeatedly emphasizes that foolish people speak foolish words. They are represented by “the woman named Folly” (9:13-18), who lies and deceives to harm her hearers. Words reflect the condition of the heart (16:23; 18:4). While someone might conceal an evil heart by using pleasant words (26:23), a person’s true character will eventually surface (26:24-26). The words of fools not only harm others; these words ultimately injure those who speak them. The tongue is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life (Jas 3:6).

In contrast, wise people speak the life-giving words represented by Wisdom (Prov 8:7-9; 10:11). Wise people use their words sparingly (17:27-28) and are usually gentle (15:4; 16:24). However, a wise person also knows the right time to speak (15:23; 25:11) and realizes that, at times, even harsh criticism is necessary (see 27:5). Proverbs wisely reminds its readers to pay close attention not only to what they say but also to how and when they say it.

Passages for Further Study

Prov 7:21-22; 8:7-9; 9:13-18; 10:11, 18; 11:13; 14:5, 25; 15:4, 23; 16:23-24; 17:28; 18:4, 21; 20:20; 25:11; 26:17, 23-26; 27:2, 5; Matt 12:33-37; Jas 3:1-12

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 8:1–36: Wisdom calls out to people and reminds them of the benefits of being wise

In contrast to the previous section describing the adulterous woman, this section describes personified Wisdom. The public setting for Wisdom’s speech is described in 8:1–3. In 8:4–11, she addresses all mankind and describes her own character. In 8:12–21, she provides reasons why people should choose her. Additional motivation is given in 8:22–31: Wisdom was with the LORD when he created the world. The section ends with Wisdom appealing to mankind to follow her teaching (8:32–36).

This section is a speech by personified Wisdom. As in Wisdom’s speech in 1:20–33, the Notes have used a capital letter for Wisdom in most verses. However, in her speech, Wisdom sometimes refers to “wisdom” as an ability that people have or use or should try to obtain. In some of these contexts, the Notes have used small letters for “wisdom.” The Display will often give more than one option. You may use either option in your language, depending on what is appropriate in each context.

Some other headings for this section are:

Wisdom’s Call (NIV)

Listen to Wisdom (NCV)

The good qualities of Wisdom

Wisdom’s second invitation to people

Paragraph 8:1–3

This paragraph describes the setting for Wisdom’s speech. The places mentioned in 8:2–3 are all places where people gathered together, where many people could listen to Wisdom’s words. This setting is similar to the one described in 1:20–21.

8:2

Notice the parallel parts. They are not similar in meaning, but they refer to the same location.

^2a On the heights overlooking the road,

^2b at the crossroads she takes her stand.

8:2a–b

(combined/reordered)

Wisdom goes and stands on an area of high ground within the city where several paths come together.

On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads: Both of these phrases refer to a single location. They refer to a place within the city that is on high ground and is near a point where several paths joined the main road.

8:2a

On the heights overlooking the road,

At a high place beside the road,

8:2b

at the crossroads she takes her stand.

at an intersection/crossroads in the city, Wisdom goes and stands.

she takes her stand: In Hebrew, this phrase is often used in a military sense of soldiers taking up their positions. Here it means that Wisdom goes and stations herself at the location mentioned in order to address the people.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

בְּ⁠רֹאשׁ־מְרוֹמִ֥ים עֲלֵי־דָ֑רֶךְ בֵּ֖ית נְתִיב֣וֹת נִצָּֽבָה

at_[the],top_of heights beside way house_of paths takes_~_stand

If it would be helpful in your language, you could change the order of these clauses. Alternate translation: “She stations herself at the head of the heights beside the road, the house of the paths”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

בְּ⁠רֹאשׁ־מְרוֹמִ֥ים עֲלֵי־דָ֑רֶךְ בֵּ֖ית נְתִיב֣וֹת

at_[the],top_of heights beside way house_of paths

The phrases the road and the house of the paths both refer to the same place, which is a place where there would be many people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “At the public place at the head of the heights beside the road, the house of the paths”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בְּ⁠רֹאשׁ־מְרוֹמִ֥ים

at_[the],top_of heights

The phrase the head of the heights refers to the top of a hill or elevated place. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “At the top of hill” or “At the highest place”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

בֵּ֖ית נְתִיב֣וֹת

house_of paths

This phrase refers to the place where roads intersect. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “where roads intersect” or “the crossroads”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

נִצָּֽבָה

takes_~_stand

Here, she refers to wisdom as if it were a woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly or use a simile. Alternate translation: “wisdom stations herself” or “wisdom stations itself as if it were a woman”

Parallel PROV 8:2

Section 8:1–36: Wisdom calls out to people and reminds them of the benefits of being wise

Paragraph 8:1–3

8:2

8:2a–b

8:2a

8:2b