Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Proverbs 15.20-29

9. Consequences of Righteousness and Wickedness (15.20-29)
     (a) Joy in Education (15.20-23)
     (b) Janus (15.24)
     (c) Destinies of Righteous and the Wicked (15.25-29)


20                                        But
A wise                                 a foolish
son                                      man
makes a __ glad              despises   

father                                 his mother.  

20b  despises ...  The proverb is almost the same as 10:1, except that “despises” replaces “grief.” This adds the idea of the callousness of the one who inflicts grief on his mother (Kidner, Proverbs [TOTC], 116).   ---NET Bible Study Notes

21 
Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, 
But a man of understanding walks uprightly.  
21a  discernmment...  The Hebrew text reads לַחֲסַר־לֵב (lakhasar-lev, “to one who lacks heart”). The Hebrew term “heart” represents the mind, the place where proper decisions are made (cf. NIV “judgment”). The one who has not developed this ability to make proper choices finds great delight in folly.  ---NET Bible Study Notes


22                                     But 
Without counsel,           in the multitude of counselors
plans                                 they
go awry,                            are established.  

23 
man has joy by the answer of his mouth, 
And a word spoken in due season, how good it is! 
23b  in due season...  Heb “in its season.” To say the right thing at the right time is useful; to say the right thing at the wrong time is counterproductive.    ---NET Bible Translation Notes

24 
The way of life winds upward for the wise, 
That he may turn away from hell below. 
24a  upward...  There is disagreement over the meaning of the term translated “upward.” The verse is usually taken to mean that “upward” is a reference to physical life and well-being (cf. NCV), and “going down to Sheol” is a reference to physical death, that is, the grave, because the concept of immortality is said not to appear in the book of Proverbs. The proverb then would mean that the wise live long and healthy lives. But W. McKane argues (correctly) that “upwards” in contrast to Sheol, does not fit the ways of describing the worldly pattern of conduct and that it is only intelligible if taken as a reference to immortality (Proverbs [OTL], 480). The translations “upwards” and “downwards” are not found in the LXX. This has led some commentators to speculate that these terms were not found in the original, but were added later, after the idea of immortality became prominent. However, this is mere speculation.    ---NET Bible Translation Notes

25                        But
The Lord            He 
will destroy       will establish
the house           the boundary
of the proud,     of the widow. 
25a  proud...  The “proud” have to be understood here in contrast to the widow, and their “house” has to be interpreted in contrast to the widow’s territory. The implication may be that the “proud” make their gain from the needy, and so God will set the balance right. 
  ---NET Bible Translation Notes

 26                                   But
The thoughts                 the words
of the wicked                 of the pure
are an abomination     are pleasant.
to the Lord,                    - - - -

27                                               But
He                                              he
who is greedy                          who hates
for gain                                     bribes
troubles his own house,        will live.  

28                                             But
The heart                                the mouth
of the righteous                     of the wicked
studies how to answer,        pours forth evil.  
28a  studies...  The verb יֶהְגֶּה (yehgeh) means “to muse; to meditate; to consider; to study.” It also involves planning, such as with the wicked “planning” a vain thing (Ps 2:1, which is contrasted with the righteous who “meditate” in the law [1:2]).   ---NET Bible Translation Notes

29                              But
The Lord                  He
is far from                hears the prayer
the wicked,              of the righteous.  








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