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22 The blessing[a] from the Lord[b] makes a person rich,[c]
and he adds no sorrow[d] to[e] it.
23 Carrying out a wicked scheme[f] is enjoyable[g] to a fool,
and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment.[h]
24 What the wicked fears[i] will come on him;
what the righteous desire[j] will be granted.[k]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:22 tn The term בְּרָכָה (berakhah, “blessing”) refers to a gift, enrichment or endowment from the Lord.
  2. Proverbs 10:22 tn Heb “of the Lord.” The term יְהוָה (yehvah, “the Lord”) functions here as a genitive of source.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Proverbs 10:22 tn Heb “with.”
  6. 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.).
  7. Proverbs 10:23 tn Heb “like sport” (so NASB, NRSV). The noun שְׂחוֹק (sekhoq, “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.
  8. Proverbs 10:23 tn Heb “a man of discernment.”
  9. Proverbs 10:24 tn Heb “the dread of the wicked.” The noun רָשָׁע (rashaʿ, “wicked”) is a subjective genitive. The noun מְגוֹרַת (megorat) refers to “the feared thing,” that is, what the wicked dread. The wicked are afraid of the consequences of their sinful actions; however, they cannot escape these consequences.
  10. Proverbs 10:24 tn Heb “the desire of the righteous.” The noun צַדִּיק (tsadiq, “righteous”) is a subjective genitive.
  11. Proverbs 10:24 tn Heb “it will give.” When used without an expressed subject, the verb יִתֵּן (yitten) has a passive nuance: “it will be granted.”