Proverbs 3:20-22 New English Translation

²⁰By his knowledge the primordial sea^[a] was broken open,^[b]
so that the clouds drip down dew.^[c]
²¹My child, do not let them^[d] escape from your sight;
safeguard sound wisdom and discretion.^[e]
²²So they will become life for your soul,^[f]
and grace around your neck.^[g]

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Footnotes

Proverbs 3:20 sn The word תְּהוֹמוֹת (t^ehomot, “primordial sea”) alludes to the chaotic “deep” in Gen 1:2 (BDB 1063 s.v. תְּהוֹם 3). This was viewed in the ancient world as a force to be reckoned with. However, God not only formed it but controls it (see J. Emerton, “Spring and Torrent in Ps 74:15, ” VT 15 [1965]: 125).
Proverbs 3:20 sn This might refer to God’s action of dividing the waters to form the dry ground on the third day (Gen 1:9-10) or, less likely, to the breaking up of the fountains of the deep at the flood (Gen 7:11).
Proverbs 3:20 tn The verb is a prefixed form and follows three perfect verbs describing past time events. The form may be understood as an archaic preterite (which normally begins with a waw consecutive). In that case it is simple past time. Or it may be taken as an imperfect to show result, “so that the clouds drip down dew.” sn The two colons form a merism: The wisdom of God is behind all forces of nature, whether the violent breaking forth of its watery forces at creation or the provision of the gentle rain and dew throughout history (T. T. Perowne, Proverbs, 55).
Proverbs 3:21 tn The object of the verb “escape” is either (1) wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in vv. 13-20 or (2) “wisdom and discretion” in the second colon of this verse. Several English versions transpose the terms “wisdom and discretion” from the second colon into the first colon for the sake of clarity and smoothness (e.g., RSV, NRSV, NIV, TEV, CEV). NIV takes the subject from the second colon and reverses the clauses to clarify that.
Proverbs 3:21 tn Or: “purpose,” “power of devising.”
Proverbs 3:22 tn The noun נַפְשֶׁךָ (nafshekha, “your soul”) is a synecdoche of part (= inner soul) for the whole person (= you); see BDB 600 s.v. 4.a.2.
Proverbs 3:22 tn Heb “for your neck.” Cf. 1:9.

New English Translation (NET)