PROVERBS. A PRIVATE TRANSLATION By Herman A. Hartmann

Transcription

1 PROVERBS A PRIVATE TRANSLATION By Herman A. Hartmann

2 PROVERBS The title of the book of Proverb tem from the firt word in the book: ylfm = proverb. While we have our own undertanding of the meaning of the word 'proverb' we oon dicover upon reading that thee are not alway the aphorim we aume in our culture. In Hebrew the term i in the ingular form meaning 'comparion'. It might be a harp imile, an allegory, pronouncement, maxim, obervation, atire, or a dark aying (riddle). Thi might be conveyed in a teaching tyle that i thought provoking through wit, paradox, common ene, ymbolim or frontal attack. Some prefer to entitle the book "The Proverb of Solomon" though Solomon' proverb do not begin until chapter 10 and continue through 22:16. There are other writer whoe work are included: the wie men: 22:17-24:22 along with further work of the wie men 24: Further proverb of Solomon: 25:1-29:27, conidered to be baed on a collection of proverb made by Hezekiah; the word of Agar: 30:1-33; the word of king Lemuel: 31:1-9; an acrotic declaration of wifely excellence: 31: The book begin with 9 chapter of proverb written by an anonymou writer. Thee were no doubt a collection of proverb that circulated in one group and perhap were well known in the Hebrew tradition, thu becoming a kind of introduction to the book. The firt 7 vere of chapter 1 form a kind of introduction, followed by praie to widom in 1:8-4:18. Thi i part of a erie of writing dealing with widom, which ha, obviouly, become 'Widom Literature" or "Hokmatic Literature". Included along with Proverb are Eccleiate, Job and the Palm within the Biblical cannon. Other example of uch literature are found in Egypt, Babylon along with other writing from culture of the Middle Eat. In ome intance parallel example are found in thee non - Biblical writing. In relatively recent year thi ha become a growing facination on the part of cholar, in part becaue much more material ha been dicovered. The reader will eldom find reference to God in Proverb. Writer wrote, baed on an aumption that God i of importance to the peron who hear or read the work. The writer(), or editor() eemed to have a their purpoe to et before the reader ome help to live properly a human being and good ervant of God. The book of Proverb wa intended a a mean of teaching and culture. The writer of the Law were building up a large tructure, the prophet painted with broad troke. The writer() who prepared the portion of Proverb, along with whoever might have edited it were ifting the grit of life to find in it thoe important concept that would hape the life of an individual who believed in the fact of God to become a worthy follower of the Divine Being. A the book wa aembled from it variou ource, named and unnamed, it eem there mut have been a worthwhile pericope that had been circulating : 'an alphabet of wifely excellence;' 31:10-31 which wa deemed to be o important to the editor that it wa appended to the writing though it did not exactly fit the previou material. It i eparated from the other portion of the Book in the LXX. There are alo izable change in ection of the book in the LXX. 30:1-33 and 31:1-9 are found following 24:34 Several theme are evident and deerving of pecial attention. Widom and a peronification of widom. In the 'widom chool' of Irael widom i both a ubject and the aim of education. 1. a religiou attitude. 2. a hidden mytery. 3. inight into daily living. 4. ound judgment and good ene. Other theme are: the fool; the coffer; the luggard; the friend; ocial behavior; word; the family; life and death. A reading of the book, earching out thee theme i exceedingly beneficial. 293

3 THE STYLE OF POETRY IN PROVERBS Each of the tich within the book of Proverb: 1:1-31:9 fall into one of four typical format. An attempt to deignate the tyle will be een to the left of the tich. Thee are: 1. Synonymou. The two tich expre the ame idea. cf. 7:1; 8:1. Thi will be deignated with the letter. 2. Antithetic. The truth of the firt tich i contratingly tated in the econd. cf. 10:5; 12:28. Thi will be deignated with the letter a. 3. Synthetic. The econd tich imply carrie the thought of the firt tich, thu forming one entence. cf. 1:10; 18:13. Thi will be deignated with the letter y. 4. Triplet. Three tich join to convey the thought. Thi will not be deignated ince it i obviou becaue of the three line compriing the vere. 294

4 PROVERBS (or, What Wie People Taught) <Introduction of the book 1:1> 1 1 The proverb of Solomon, king of Irael, 2 on of David. <Introduction to the benefit of the book 1:2-6> 2 Thee proverb are intended for the purpoe of knowing 3 widom and intruction, 4 undertanding maxim of inight. 3 Through thee you receive intruction in wie conduct, righteoune, 5 jutice and honety; 6 4 that hrewdne 7 may be imparted to thoe with little undertanding (or, the naive); knowledge and dicernment to the youth Thoe who are wie may gain information and increae their learning and thoe who have undertanding may acquire kill, 8 6 o that they undertand a proverb and interpret an enigma, the word of the wie and their riddle. <The motto of the book 1:7> 9 7 The chief part 10 (or, the bet part) of knowledge i reverence of the Lord. Only fool have contempt for widom and intruction. y <Intruction and peeche of widom 1:8-9:18> <1 Liten to your parent 1:8-9> 8 My child 11 be attentive to the intruction of our father and do not rebel againt your mother' teaching, 9 for thee are a garland of grace (or, a beautiful adornment) for your head, and a pendant to adorn your neck. <2 Beware of inner 1:10-19> 10 My child, if inner attempt to lead you atray, do not give in. 11 Suppoe they would ay to you, "Come with u, let u waylay and kill omeone. We will ambuh omeone who i innocent, for no reaon: 12 like Sheol let u wallow (or, detroy) them alive 1 While thee vere are written in Hebrew a poetic form like the remainder of the book it ha been et a proe ince it i and introduction. A an introduction proe eem more appropriate. 2 The MT accent demand that "king of Irael" follow the name "Solomon." 3 hmkx = moral and religiou intelligence. 4 rm = dicipline, chatiement o that a goal may be achieved. 5 The root meaning of the Hebrew word i "traight" "the norm of conduct." 6 The Hebrew word implie mooth, traight, on the level. 7 Hebrew: "crafty." 8 The term i a nautical one. The root word mean "rope" thu to pull on a rope would imply to teer or to guide, hence kill. There are even different verb in Proverb to expre the concept of "wie action." There are fourteen different noun for the concept of "widom." 9 Some cholar would conider thi a the climax to the introduction and not eparate it from vere So: literally. 11 Literally: "on." 295

5 though they are alive and well, 12 we will end them to their grave (or, the land of the dead) We will eize all their wealth, we will fill our houe with the loot. 14 Come, be a partner with u and we will all get a hare of the loot." My child, do not be aociated with them and do not follow them 16 [for they are anxiou to perpetuate evil and they are alway eager to hed blood.] 15 y 17 For it doe no good to catter grain on a net in the ight of a bird (or, If you catter grain on a net. when a bird i watching, it urely wouldn't be caught), but thee wicked one et a trap that will detroy them they et an ambuh for their own live. 17 y 19 That i the way it i for all who, with violence and go after wrongful gain; 18 for it detroy the live of violent people. <3 Widom' peech 1:20-33> 20 Widom 19 call loudly in the treet: in the market quare 20 he raie her voice; 21 She crie out on top of the wall (or, at the head of the noiy treet); at the entrance of the city gate 21 he crie out over the noie: "How long, O foolih one, will you depie widom, [how long will coffer how contempt and fool reject knowledge.] Liten to my reprimand; behold I will hare my undertanding with you, 12 Literally: "whole" either phyically whole or morally whole. 13 Literally: "Sheol." 14 Literally: "we will all have one pure." 15 Poibly a later addition from Iaiah 59:7. It i omitted in the bet LXX manucript. 16 Hebrew difficult. Literally: "a poeor of wing." Hunter placed two vane of netting on either ide of a clearing or hole trewn with bait while they hid behind a wall, holding onto the cord. When the bird alighted the vane were quickly pulled toward each other, catching the bird. There are three way of interpreting thi vere. 1. Bird wouldn't be caught in a trap when they ee it being et. 2. Even though bird ee the trap they are o eager for the eed they ignore the trap. 3. Jut a the bird avoid the trap it ee being et, o the learner will know how to avoid evil. 17 Hebrew unclear. The ancient tranlation: LXX, Syriac, Vulgate and Targum each interpret and tranlate the vere differently. 18 With the ene of unjut gain baed on the Hebrew word xqy 19 The Hebrew word form i feminine. Widom i peronified a a woman who peak to the reader. 21 Where public buine i tranacted. 22 Hebrew difficult. Line one of the tich i baed on the LXX in thi tranlation. 23 Some cholar feel thi i a late addition to the text. 296

6 I will declare my undertanding plainly with you. 24 "Becaue I have called you and you refued to liten, I have invited you to hear but you rejected me, y 25 and you have ignored (or, purned) all my advice and would not accept my correction of your way, 26 I alo will laugh when you have problem, 24 I will ridicule you when terror come upon you, 27 when terror aail you like a torm, 25 and your calamity come like a whirlwind; when you have ditre and anguih (or, pain and miery). 28 "Then you will call to me for widom but I will not anwer; you will earch everywhere for me but will not find me, 29 becaue you have hated knowledge and have refued to obey and revere the Lord. 30 You have not deired any of my counel and refued to let me correct you. 31 "Becaue of thi you will receive what you deerve 26 and become ick 27 of your bad behavior Thoe who refue to liten are killed becaue they reject widom and the indifference of fool detroy them; 33 but whoever liten to me will live ecurely and will have peace of mind without anguih and trouble." <CHAPTER 2> <The econd intruction 2:1-22> 29 <1 Seek widom 2:1-8> 1 "My child, if you accept my word and tore up my commandment within you, 2 having your ear attentive to widom and directing your heart to knowledge; 3 ye, if you cry out for inight (or, intelligence) and raie your voice to learn (or, for reaon), 4 if you eek it a you eek ilver 24 Literally: "calamity." 25 Literally: "when your terror come like a torm." 26 Literally: "eat the fruit of your way." 27 Literally: "ated" or, gratified to the point of being tuffed. 28 The Hebrew word i generally ued only in the bad ene, except for 22: Thi chapter i poibly an acrotic type poem compoed of 22 tich but intead of uing a different letter of the alphabet to introduce each tich a in, for example: Palm 111, 112 and 119 and Proverb 31:10 ff., the writer ha choen the ue of a for the firt 11 vere and l the letter introducing the econd half of the alphabet for the remaining 11 vere. Becaue of the placement of thee letter in the chapter it fall into two equal part. In vere 1-11 the emphai i on "Widom" and in vere the emphai i on "the way". In Hebrew thi chapter i one huge entence. 297

7 y a and earch for it a for hidden treaure; 5 then you will undertand reverence for the Lord and dicover the knowledge of God. 6 [For it i the Lord who give widom; out of hi mouth come knowledge and inight; 7 for he ha a tore 30 of ound widom (or, helpful advice) for the upright; he i a hield to thoe who walk in integrity, 8 protecting the path of jutice and guarding the way of hi aint (or, thoe who are faithful to him)."] 31 <2 Knowing what i right 2:9-11> 9 "Then you will undertand righteoune and jutice and will follow every good (or, honet) path, for when widom come into your heart, and knowledge become pleaant to your oul, 11 dicretion will be a afeguard for you; reaon (or, undertanding) will protect you." <3 Avoiding wicked people 2:12-15> 12 "It will deliver you from the evil way, from thoe of perverted (or, pervere) peech, 13 who abandon the path of the righteou to walk in the way of darkne; 14 who delight in doing evil and rejoice in the perverene of evil. 15 Thoe are the people whoe path are crooked, and who are deviou in their way." <4 Avoiding the immoral woman 2:16-19> 16 "You will be aved from the protitute, 33 from the adulterou 34 with her mooth word, 17 who forake the partner of her youth (or, her huband) and forget the covenant of her God; 18 for her path lead 35 down to death, and her track to the hade (or, Rephaim) None who go to her 37 return, nor do they regain the path of life." 30 Hebrew uncertain. So: Targum and Vulgate. 31 Some cholar feel thi i a later addition which completed the acrotic nature of the paage. 32 Hebrew uncertain. 33 Hebrew: "trange" or "forbidden woman." 34 Literally: "foreign woman" i.e. one who i not known in the town. 35 So: emended to read ntybt "her path lead." MT read htyb "her houe bow down." 36 Hebrew Rephaim ~yapr Thee are not extinct oul but are thoe whoe life ha little ubtance. Their cae i hopele. 37 The phrae ha exual connotation in Hebrew. 298

8 <5 Reward and punihment 2:20-22> 20 "Thu you will walk in the way of a good peron, and keep to the path of the righteou, 21 for the upright will inhabit (or, dwell in ) the land, and thoe who are honet will remain in it (or, urvive). 21 but the wicked will be cut off from the land and the treacherou will be rooted out of it." 38 <CHAPTER 3> <The third intruction 3:1-12> 1 "My child, do not forget my teaching, 39 but alway remember to keep my commandment; y 2 for they will give you a long life along with abundant well being (or, properity). 3 Do not let love (or, loyalty) and faithfulne fail; let thee be like a cord around your neck. 40 [Write them on the tablet of your heart.] 41 y 4 Thu you will find favor 42 and good reputation 43 in the ight of God and people. 5 "Put all your trut in the Lord and do not rely on your own intelligence. y 6 Let him lead you in all your way and he will make your path traight (or, mooth). 7 Do not think proudly about your own widom; revere the Lord and reject evil, 8 for thi will be a cure for your body 44 and a tonic (or, lineament) for your limb Honor the Lord with your wealth, and with the firt fruit of your produce Then your barn will be filled with plenty and your vat 47 will be overflowing with wine. 11 My child, do not reject the Lord' correction (or, dicipline), or abhor (or, be offended by) 48 hi reproof, 12 for the Lord correct the one he love, 38 To reject widom' call mean death and obedience mean life. 39 Literally: "law." 40 Literally: "bind thee around your neck." 41 Thi tich i not in LXX and wa a poible later addition to the Hebrew text. 42 The Hebrew ha an imperative. 43 So: emended. Hebrew: "undertanding" with the concept of hrewdne. 44 So: LXX. Hebrew: "navel." 45 Literally: "your bone." 46 Hebrew: &taubt "increae." An agricultural term. 47 Technically the Hebrew word i for the lower portion of the wine pre %ybqy 48 Literally: "hrink from." 299

9 jut a parent correct the child in whom they delight." 49 <The fourth intruction> <1 In praie of Widom 3:13-18> 13 "Happy are thoe who find widom, and thoe who gain undertanding; 14 for the profit from widom i more valuable than profit from ilver and even more valuable than gold. 15 She (or, Widom) i more preciou than jewel, 50 and nothing you deire (or, long for) can compare with her. 16 In her right hand i long life, 51 in her left hand are riche and honor. 17 Her way are pleaant one and all her path are peaceful. 18 Widom i like a tree that give people who grap her, long life; thoe who cling tightly to Widom are happy (or, fortunate)." <2 Widom and creation 3:19-20> 19 "The Lord created the earth by hi widom; he etablihed the heaven by widom and knowledge; 20 by hi knowledge the river began to flow and the cloud provided rain for the earth." <The fifth intruction 3:21-35> <1 Widom give you a happy life 3:21-26> 21 "My child, hold on to ound widom and dicretion; alway keep them in mind y 22 for they provide life for your oul; a long and beautiful life. 52 y 23 Then you will walk afely on your way, and you will never tumble. 24 When you it down 53 you will not be afraid; when you lie down you will have a pleaant night leep. 25 Do not be afraid of udden terror or the diater 54 that trike the wicked, for the Lord will keep you afely, 56 and will keep your foot from harm." 49 Hebrew unclear. LXX: "afflict." 50 The Hebrew word ~gynpm i not clear. the root word mean "ruddy." Poibly "rubie." Some tranlator ue the word "coral." 51 Literally: "length of day." 52 Literally: "adornment for your neck." 53 So: LXX. Emended. Hebrew: "lie down." 54 Literally: "torm." 55 Hebrew: ~y[v^ The word "wicked" i ued 75 time, often being compared with the righteou. 56 LXX: "on all your road." Hebrew: "your torm." 300

10 <2 How to behave 3:27-31> y 27 "Do not withhold good from thoe who deerve it, 57 when you have the ability to ait. y 28 Do not ay to your neighbor, 'Go. Come back later. Tomorrow I will give it.' --- when you have it with you. y 29 Do not devie evil plot that will harm your neighbor, when he trutingly reide beide you. y 30 Do not quarrel with other for no reaon, when they have done you no harm. 31 Do not be jealou of a lawle peron and do not follow that peron' example." a a a a a <3 How the Lord deal with good and evil 3:32-35> 32 "The deviou peron are an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are hi confidence The Lord' cure ret on the houe of the wicked, but he blee the abode of the righteou. 34 He i cornful toward thoe who are conceited, but he how favor toward the humble (or, wretched). 35 The wie will gain honorable reparation but fool will be digraced." 59 <CHAPTER 4> <The ixth intruction 4:1-27> <1 Liten to your father about the benefit of widom 4:1-9> 1 "My child, heed a father' intruction and be attentive, that you may gain 60 inight; 2 for I give you excellent (or, beneficial) intruction. Do not forake my intruction. 3 "When I wa my father' little boy, young, the only child of my mother, 61 4 he taught me, and aid to me, 'Be ure to remember my word; follow my intruction and you will live (a long life); a 5 Acquire widom! Acquire inight! 62 Do not forget! 63 Do not ignore what I teach you! 6 Do not abandon widom and he will protect you; 57 Hebrew literally: "do not withhold good from it owner." LXX: "your neighbor." 58 Literally: "but hi private counel i upright." 59 So: emended. Hebrew: "exalt>" Literally: "the fool raie dihonor high." LXX: "The ungodly exalt dihonor." 60 Literally: "know." 61 LXX alo inert "beloved." 62 Not in LXX. 63 Not in Syriac. 301

11 love her and he will keep you afe. 64 y 7 [Firt of all, to be wie: acquire widom, 65 and whatever you acquire, acquire inight.] 66 8 Extol her and he will exalt you, 67 embrace her and he will bring you honor. 9 She will adorn your head with a beautiful wreath, and will betow on you a gloriou crown'." 68 <2 Widom give you long life and protection 4:10-19> y 10 "My child, heed and accept my word, that you may have a long life. 11 I have taught you how to live wiely; I have guided you in the path of uprightne. 12 When you walk, your tep will not be hampered (or, you will not break your tride); 69 and if you run you will not tumble Keep remembering the intruction, don't become lax; guard widom for it i baic in your life.. 14 Avoid the path of the wicked, do not follow the example of evildoer. 15 Avoid it! Stay away from it! Reject it and pa by! 16 The evildoer cannot leep unle they have done evil; they are robbed of leep unle they have caued omeone to tumble (or, harmed omeone). 17 They eat the bread of wickedne and drink the wine of violence. y 18 But the path of the righteou i like dawn' light which hine brighter and brighter until it i broad daylight. 71 y 19 The way of the wicked i like deep darkne; 72 they do not know what will caue them to tumble." <3 Remember Widom and enjoy life 4:20-27> 20 "My child, be attentive to my word; liten to what I ay. 21 Do not looe ight of my teaching, 64 Vere 6 in LXX i: "Guard the commandment, do not forget, and do not deviate from the word of my mouth." 65 Literally: "the primary thing i widom." 66 Not in LXX. Literally: "with all your poeion get inight" or "get inight at all cot." 67 Hebrew uncertain. 68 The puruit of widom i the puruit of a life partner who become a companion betowing benefit. 69 The root Hebrew word i rrc "to be narrow." Here the word become rcy Broadne in Hebrew denote well-being, properity. Narrowne denote adverity and enmity. 70 The Hebrew word for "tumble" i different in 3:23. It i the ame word, however, in 4:16 and Literally: "until the day i etablihed." Vulgate: "the perfect day." 72 hlpak = the entire abence of light. 302

12 but keep them in your mind. 22 They provide life to whoever dicover them, and healing to the entire body. y 23 Guard your thought with vigilance; 73 becaue they determine your life (or, are the ource of life) Do not peak falehood and do not peak o a to milead Let your eye look traight ahead, and alway have a traight forward appearance Survey carefully 77 your way of life, and all your way will be proper. 27 do not deviate from being morally correct, keep yourelf from evil." 78 <CHAPTER 5> <The eventh intruction> <1 Avoid adultery 5:1-14> 1 "My child, be attentive to my widom; liten to my inight (or, undertanding), 2 that you may chooe wiely (or, live properly) and your lip may watch over knowledge The converation 80 of an adultere (or, protitute) 81 i eductive. Her word 82 are flattering (or, her kie are very delightful), 83 4 but the aftereffect 84 i bitter a wormwood, 85 a cutting a a two-edged word Her manner of life lead to death, her tep lead to the grave She doe not concern herelf with living morally; her coure meander and he doe not realize it (or, he doe not realize her retlene). 73 So: emended. Literally: "above all guarding, guard your heart." 74 Targum: "From all treaure guard your heart, for from it i the departure of life (= death). 75 Literally: "with pervere lip." 76 Literally: "let your eyelid be traight in front of you." 77 Hebrew uncertain. dlp = to be even, to weigh, to ponder, to make level. 78 LXX add: "For God know the way of thoe on the right, but thoe on the left are perverted. He will make your path traight; will guide your way in peace." 79 LXX: "and the knowledge of my lip i commanded you." 80 Literally: "the lip." 81 Literally: "a tranger" or "looe woman." 82 Literally: "her palate." 83 Literally: "i moother than oil." 84 Literally: "when it i over he..." The Hebrew word htyra implie the idea of final judgment or punihment. 85 Wormwood: artemia herba-alba i a plant with bitter tate. The weet word of the adultere lead to bitter experience. 86 Literally: "a word of edge." 87 Hebrew: "lay hold of Sheol." 303

13 7 "And now, children, 88 liten to me; and do not forget (or, reject) what I have to ay. 8 Keep yourelve far from her; and do not even go near the doorway of her houe; 9 or you will loe your dignity (or, good name) and your life will be ubject to one who i mercile. 10 Stranger will take their fill of your wealth (or, trength), 89 and your earning will go to tranger. 11 At the end of your life you will groan when your fleh and mucle 90 are being eaten away 12 and you ay, 'Why did I hate dicipline, and why did my heart depie being corrected? 13 Why did I not liten to the voice of my teacher or pay attention to my intructor? 14 Suddenly I am at the brink of utter ruin, digraced in the public aembly'." <2 Be faithful to your wife 5:15-20> 15 "Drink water from your own citern; water flowing from your own well. 16 Should your pring overflow in public 91 like rivulet of water in the treet? 17 Let them be your alone and not hared with tranger Let your exuality be a bleing; rejoice in the wife of your youth. 19 a lovely doe, a graceful mountain goat. Let her breat delight you at all time. Alway be intoxicated with her love. 20 My child, why hould you be impaioned 93 by an adulterou woman 94 and fondle the breat of a protitute." {A non-figurative tranlation of vere 15-20} 15 Be faithful to your own wife; you have a wife, be faithful to her. 16 Should you have children from other women running about the treet? 17 Your children hould be devoted to you. Do not hare your exual pleaure with other. 88 Hebrew plural. LXX & Vulgate ingular. 89 The Hebrew word %xk = that which one acquire or that which one achieve. 90 The word tranlated "fleh" rfb = outide kin. rav = inner fleh next to the bone. 91 Hebrew: "your fountain will pread abroad." 92 Hebrew unclear. So: LXX. 93 The Hebrew word hgvt = "to go atray" or "to err." 94 Cf. Footnote 81, page

14 18 May your marital relationhip be bleed a you rejoice in your relationhip with the one you married when you were young. 19 She i a pretty and graceful a a deer, having a figure that alway delight you. Alway be paionate in your love for her. 20 My child, why hould you become exually involved with a protitute and be educed by the charm of an adulterou?" <3 the fate of the wicked 5:21-23> "The way of human are alway een by the Lord. He examine 96 all their path. 22 The wicked are ennared by their own iniquitie and they are caught in the net of their own in. 23 They die becaue of a lack of elf control (or, dicipline) and are lot becaue of their great folly." <CHAPTER 6> <The eighth intruction> <1 Avoid other people' debt 6:1-5> 1 "My child, if you have promied to be reponible 99 for your neighbor' debt, and have made thi promie to omeone, if you are trapped by the utterance of your lip, 101 caught up in the word of your mouth; y 3 do thi, my child, to extricate yourelf for you have come under your neighbor' power; 102 go, hurry to your neighbor and humble 103 yourelf (or, plead, grovel). 4 Do not wate a moment, don't delay, go now; ave yourelf like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter like a bird ecaping from the nare of the one who trap bird." <2 Don't be lazy 6:6-11> y 6 "Go to the ant, you lazybone; Thee vere are conidered to be an addition by ome cholar who then connect them with 6:1-19 rather than with 5: Hebrew uncertain. 97 So: emended. 98 The Hebrew poetry with it repetition of key word and ironic contrat i particularly intereting in thi chapter. 99 tbr[ Thi Hebrew word ha been taken over in Greek meaning pledge, earnet, ecurity. αρραβων. 100 Literally: "if you have truck your palm with a foreigner." 101 So emended by LXX & Syriac. Hebrew: "the word of your mouth." 102 Literally: "you have come into the palm of your neighbor." 103 The Hebrew word pr = to tamp out, to tread. LXX & Vulgate read imilarly to the emendation in thi tranlation. 104 Literally: "your eyelid no lumber." 105 lk[ i only found in Proverb in the form of a noun. 305

15 learn by oberving the life of an ant. 7 Without having a leader. officer 106 or ruler, 8 it prepare it food in ummer and gather it food during the harvet eaon. 9 How long will you lie there, O lazybone? When will you rie from your leep? 10 A little more leep, a little more lumber, a little folding of the hand to ret, and poverty will come upon you like a robber (or, vagrant) and carcity like an armed man, (or, like a beggar)." 110 y y y y y y <3 Fate of the wicked 6:12-15> 12 "A coundrel 111 and villain, who goe about telling lie; with hifty eye, huffling feet; pointing 113 with hi finger; 14 and all the while plotting evil cheme; continually inciting argument. 15 Becaue of thi calamity will trike him uddenly; in a moment he will be damaged beyond repair." <4 Seven thing the Lord hate 6:16-19> 16 "The Lord hate ix thing, even are an abomination to him; arrogance, 115 a lying tongue, hand that hed innocent blood, 18 a mind that devie evil cheme, feet that quickly hurry to do evil, 19 a fale witne whoe tetimony i lie and one who incite brother into quarreling." <The ninth intruction 6:20-35> <1 Reward for accepting your parent' teaching 6:20-23> 20 "My child, keep your father' commandment. 106 Literally: "cribe" one who keep record. 107 Poibly thi reference i to "harveter ant," common in the Middle Eat, known to tore grain in their net. 108 LXX add additional vere decribing the buine of the bee, probably added by a cribe to emphaize indutrioune and diligence. 109 The Hebrew word for "ret" mean "to lie down.". 110 Hebrew uncertain. Literally: "like an armed man." 111 Literally: "a man of belial." Late Judaim applied thi word to Satan. The word mean "depravity" or "degradation." 112 Literally: "with a crooked mouth." 113 Literally: "intruct." 114 To ay ix and then revie to even i tandard poetic parallelim. It doe not imply a change in the writer' mind but rather it i rhetorical tyle for emphai. 115 Literally: "haughty eye." 306

16 Do not forake your mother' teaching Alway keep thee in mind; keep them freh in your memory They will guide you when you walk, they will protect you when you lie down, they will advie you when you awake. 23 The commandment are a lamp and teaching; and the rebuke that dicipline you will how you how to live." <2 Avoid adultery 6:24-29> 24 "Thee will preerve you from omeone ele' wife, from the mooth tongue of the adultere. 25 Do not lut for her beauty and do not let her captivate you with her flirting eye, y 25 for a protitute' fee i a loaf of bread, 118 but an adultere talk a man' very life. 119 y 27 Can a peron carry glowing ember againt hi body without burning hi clothing? y 28 Or: can one walk on live coal 120 and not corch hi feet? y 29 In the ame way whoever ha exual relation with a neighbor' wife -- no one who touche her will go unpunihed." y <3 Reult of adultery 6:30-35> 30 "People do not depie a thief if he teal to appeae hi great hunger Yet, if he i caught, he mut pay evenfold; though he will need to give up everything he own. 32 He who commit adultery i devoid of ene; he who doe it detroy himelf. 33 He will experience dieae and dihonor and hi digrace will be permanent. 34 For jealouy make a huband vindictive and when he take revenge he will not how pity. 35 He will accept no retitution (or, ranom), 122 nor be appeaed, no matter how much you increae your bribe." Literally: "law." 117 Literally: "tie them about your neck." 118 Emended a per LXX, Syriac, Vulgate & Targum: "round loaf of bread." 119 I. e. a harlot can be hired for a mall um but an adultere take a man' very oul. 120 Literally: "glowing wood." 121 A difficult vere. If a thief i depied for tealing bread when he i hungry, how much more i a peron depied for tealing another man' wife. 122 Literally: "covering." 123 I. e. no amount of money will appeae an angry huband whoe wife ha been unfaithful. 307