PROV 8:29 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, 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 καὶ ὡς ἰσχυρὰ ἐποίει τὰ θεμέλια τῆς γῆς,
(kai hōs isⱪura epoiei ta themelia taʸs gaʸs, )

ULT when he set up for the sea its statute,
⇔ so waters do not cross over his mouth,
⇔ when he inscribed the foundations of the earth.

UST I was there when Yahweh set boundaries for the seas,
⇔ so that the water in the seas would not go past the boundaries that he commanded.
⇔ I was there when Yahweh made the parts supporting the dry land.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE when he gave to the sea its boundary,
⇔ that the waters should not violate his commandment,
⇔ when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(22-31)“God sovereignly made me—the first, the basic—
  before he did anything else.
I was brought into being a long time ago,
  well before Earth got its start.
I arrived on the scene before Ocean,
  yes, even before Springs and Rivers and Lakes.
Before Mountains were sculpted and Hills took shape,
  I was already there, newborn;
Long before God stretched out Earth’s Horizons,
  and tended to the minute details of Soil and Weather,
And set Sky firmly in place,
  I was there.
When he mapped and gave borders to wild Ocean,
  built the vast vault of Heaven,
  and installed the fountains that fed Ocean,
When he drew a boundary for Sea,
  posted a sign that said no trespassing,
And then staked out Earth’s Foundations,
  I was right there with him, making sure everything fit.
Day after day I was there, with my joyful applause,
  always enjoying his company,
Delighted with the world of things and creatures,
  happily celebrating the human family.

NET when he gave the sea his decree
⇔ that the waters should not pass over his command,
⇔ when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

LSV In His setting for the sea its limit,
And the waters do not transgress His command,
In His decreeing the foundations of earth,

FBV when he set limits on the sea so that the waters would not go farther than he ordered, and when he laid out the foundations of the earth.

T4T I was there when he fixed a boundary for the seas,
⇔ so that the water in the seas would not go past those boundaries,
⇔ and when he put down the foundations which support the earth.

LEB • when he assigned[fn] his limits to the sea, that waters shall not transgress his command ,[fn]
• when he marked[fn] the foundations of the earth,

8:? Literally “in his assigning”

8:? Literally “mouth”

8:? Literally “in his marking”

BBE When he put a limit to the sea, so that the waters might not go against his word: when he put in position the bases of the earth:

Moff when he set the boundaries of the sea,
⇔ when he laid foundations for the earth;

JPS When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not transgress His commandment, when He appointed the foundations of the earth;

ASV When he gave to the sea its bound,
⇔ That the waters should not transgress his commandment,
⇔ When he marked out the foundations of the earth;

DRA When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when be balanced the foundations of the earth;

YLT In His setting for the sea its limit, And the waters transgress not His command, In His decreeing the foundations of earth,

Drby when he imposed on the sea his decree that the waters should not pass his commandment, when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

RV When he gave to the sea its bound, that the waters should not transgress his commandment: when he marked out the foundations of the earth:

SLT In his setting his law to the sea, and the waters shall not pass by his mouth; in his making firm the foundations of the earth:

Wbstr When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

KJB-1769 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

KJB-1611 When he gaue to the sea his decree, that the waters should not passe his commandement: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps When he shut the sea within certaine boundes, that the waters should not go ouer their markes that he commaunded: when he layde the foundations of the earth,
(When he shut the sea within certain bounds, that the waters should not go over their markes that he commanded: when he laid the foundations of the earth,)

Gnva When he gaue his decree to the Sea, that the waters shoulde not passe his commandement: when he appointed the foundations of the earth,
(When he gave his decree to the Sea, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth, )

Cvdl Whan he shutt the see within certayne bowndes, that ye waters shulde not go ouer their marckes. When he layed the foundacions of the earth,
(When he shutt the sea within certain bowndes, that ye/you_all waters should not go over their marckes. When he laid the foundations of the earth,)

Wycl Whanne he cumpasside to the see his marke; and settide lawe to watris, that tho schulden not passe her coostis. Whanne he peiside the foundementis of erthe;
(When he compassed/surrounded to the sea his marke; and set law to waters, that those should not pass her coasts. When he peiside the foundations of earth;)

Luth da er dem Meer das Ziel setzte und den Wassern, daß sie nicht übergehen seinen Befehl, da er den Grund der Erde legte:
(there he to_him sea the goal/target sat and the water, that they/she/them not transition(v) his command(n), there he the Grund the/of_the earth/land/ground laid:)

ClVg quando circumdabat mari terminum suum, et legem ponebat aquis, ne transirent fines suos; quando appendebat fundamenta terræ:
(when circumdabat of_the_sea term his_own, and the_law ponebat in_the_waters, not to_passnt fines his_own; when appendebat foundations of_the_earth/land: )

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 8:22–31

In this paragraph, Wisdom gives additional reasons why people should choose her. The LORD created Wisdom before anything else (8:22–26), and she was present with the LORD when he created the world (8:27–29). She also delighted in what the LORD created (8:30–31).

8:29

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^29awhen He set a boundary for the sea,

^29bso that the waters would not surpass His command,

^29cwhen He marked out the foundations of the earth.

The first two lines describe the boundaries that the LORD set for the ocean. The third line is parallel to the first two lines. It also describes an area that the LORD established for part of his creation—the earth’s foundation.

8:29a

when He set a boundary for the sea,

I was there when he assigned/made boundaries for the ocean

when He set a boundary for the sea: The boundary of the sea is where the LORD determined that the ocean would end and the dry land would begin. It is the place on the shore beyond which the waves may not come. Other ways to translate this clause are:

when he assigned to the sea its limit (NRSV)

when he set boundaries for the sea (CEV)

8:29a–b

(combined/reordered)

I was also there when he commanded the waves of the ocean not to go past the boundaries/limits that he had set/designated.

8:29b

so that the waters would not surpass His command,

so the waves/water would not go past the place/boundaries that he had commanded.

so that the waters would not surpass His command: The verb surpass means “to go beyond” or “to transgress.” This clause refers to the LORD’s command that the ocean not go past the boundary he had set. Another way to translate this clause is:

so they would not spread beyond their boundaries (NLT)

General Comment on 8:29a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder some of the parallel ideas in these two lines. For example:

I was there when he ordered the sea not to go beyond the borders he had set. (NCV)

8:29c

when He marked out the foundations of the earth.

And likewise, I was there when he marked the place where he would set/establish the earth.
And I was also there when he made/laid the foundation of the earth.

when He marked out the foundations of the earth: The Hebrew word translated as marked out is the same word that was used in 8:27b where the BSB translated it as “inscribed.” The word foundations is most often used of actual buildings, some of which had stone foundations. However, the earth’s foundations are figuratively described in Job 38:4–6 as having both supporting pillars and a cornerstone (see also 8:25a). So it is better if you can translate foundations without specifying a particular kind of foundation. The point in this verse is that the LORD designated the area on which the earth would be firmly set.

If your language has no word for foundation, you may be able to express the same meaning by using a verb phrase. For example:

when he decided where He would firmly set the earth

Several English translations describe the process of making a foundation rather than the first step of marking it out. For example:

when he laid the earth’s foundation (NCV)

when he laid foundations to support the earth (CEV)

Be sure to choose whatever words are naturally used in your language for marking out and making a foundation.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

בְּ⁠שׂ֘וּמ֤⁠וֹ & פִ֑י⁠ו בְּ֝⁠חוּק֗⁠וֹ

when,he,set & mouth_of,his when,he,marked_out

In this verse, he and his refer to Yahweh. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “when Yahweh set up … Yahweh’s mouth … when Yahweh inscribed”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

חֻקּ֗⁠וֹ

limit_of,its

Here, its statute refers to the limit or boundary of sea, where the sea ends and the dry land begins. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “its limit”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

פִ֑י⁠ו

mouth_of,his

Here, mouth refers to God’s statute that was mentioned in the previous clause as if it were a command spoken by God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “his command” or “that limit”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בְּ֝⁠חוּק֗⁠וֹ

when,he,marked_out

This clause refers to Yahweh designating the foundations of the earth as if he were drawing them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “when he designated” or “when he decreed”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

מ֣וֹסְדֵי אָֽרֶץ

foundations_of earth

Here the earth is spoken of as though it rested on foundations such as a building has. These were sometimes thought of as the bottoms of the mountains (see [Micah 6:2](../mic/06/02.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the lowest parts of the earth]

Parallel PROV 8:29