Proverbs 10:21-23

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Proverbs 10:21 tn Heb “lips.” The term “lips” functions as a metonymy of cause for what is said (or in this case taught).
2. Proverbs 10:21 tn The verb רָעָה (raʿah) means “to feed” or “to shepherd” (e.g., Gen 48:15). What they say will meet the needs of many.
3. Proverbs 10:21 tn In what sense the fool “dies” is unclear. Fools ruin their lives and the lives of others by their lack of discipline and knowledge. The contrast is between enhancing life and ruining life.
4. Proverbs 10:21 tn The term לֵב (lev, “mind, heart”) is used as a metonymy of association for what one does with the mind (i.e., thinking), and so refers to discernment, wisdom, good sense.
5. Proverbs 10:22 tn The term בְּרָכָה (b^erakhah, “blessing”) refers to a gift, enrichment or endowment from the Lord.
6. Proverbs 10:22 tn Heb “of the Lord.” The term יְהוָה (y^ehvah, “the Lord”) functions here as a genitive of source.
7. Proverbs 10:22 tn Heb “makes rich” (so NASB); NAB “brings wealth.” The direct object “a person” does not appear in the Hebrew but is implied by the Hiphil verb; it is supplied in the translation.
8. Proverbs 10:22 tn Heb “toil.” The noun עֶצֶב (ʿetsev) has a basic two-fold range of meanings: (1) “toil; labor” which produces pain and sorrow, and (2) “pain; sorrow” which is the result of toil and labor (BDB 780 s.v.). This is the word used of the curse of “toil” in man’s labor (Gen 3:17) and the “pain” in the woman’s child-bearing (Gen 3:16). God’s blessing is pure and untarnished—it does not bring physical pain or emotional sorrow.
9. Proverbs 10:22 tn Heb “with.”
10. Proverbs 10:23 tn Heb “doing a plan.” The noun זִמָּה (zimmah, “plan”) is often used pejoratively of a scheme to do wickedness. It is used elsewhere for planning lewdness, murder, incest, adultery, idolatry, and licentiousness. Any planned gross impropriety gives the fool pleasure. The verb עָשָׂה (ʿasah, “to do”) here means “to carry out (a plan)” (BDB 794 s.v.).
11. Proverbs 10:23 tn Heb “like sport” (so NASB, NRSV). The noun שְׂחוֹק (s^ekhoq, “sport”) is used elsewhere to refer to what is exhilarating and pleasurable (BDB 966 s.v.). As W. G. Plaut says, it is like child’s play (Proverbs, 132). For the fool evil brings such enjoyment; for the discerning wisdom does.
12. Proverbs 10:23 tn Heb “a man of discernment.”