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17 The first to state his case[a] seems[b] right,
until his opponent[c] begins to[d] cross-examine him.[e]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:17 tn Heb “in his legal case”; NAB “who pleads his case first.”
  2. Proverbs 18:17 tn The term “seems” does not appear in the Hebrew but is supplied in the translation for the sake of smoothness (cf. KJV “seemeth”).
  3. Proverbs 18:17 tn Heb “his neighbor”; NRSV “the other.”
  4. Proverbs 18:17 tc The Kethib is the imperfect יָבֹא (yavoʾ), “his opponent comes and….” The Qere is the conjunction with the participle/perfect tense form וּבָא (uvaʾ), “[but] then his opponent comes and….” The latter is reflected in most of the ancient versions. There is not an appreciable difference in the translation.
  5. Proverbs 18:17 sn The proverb is a continuous sentence teaching that there must be cross-examination to settle legal disputes. There are two sides in any disputes, and so even though the first to present his case sounds right, it must be challenged. The verb הָקַר (haqar, translated “cross-examines”) is used for careful, diligent searching and investigating to know something (e.g., Ps 139:1).