Proverbs Notes

Proverbs 1

a 1:12 Or the grave

b 1:21 Septuagint, Syriac, and Targum read top of the walls; Vulgate reads the head of multitudes.

Proverbs 3

a 3:6 Or make smooth or straight

b 3:8 Literally navel, figurative of the body

c 3:8 Literally drink or refreshment

Proverbs 4

a 4:18 Literally light

Proverbs 5

a 5:5 Or Sheol

Proverbs 6

a 6:5 That is, one who catches birds in a trap or snare

b 6:22 Literally it

c 6:26 Literally a man’s wife, that is, of another

Proverbs 7

a 7:22 Septuagint, Syriac, and Targum read as a dog to bonds; Vulgate reads as a lamb … to bonds.

b 7:27 Or Sheol

Proverbs 8

a 8:16 Masoretic Text, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read righteousness; Septuagint, Bomberg, and some manuscripts and editions read earth.

b 8:30 A Jewish tradition reads one brought up.

Proverbs 9

a 9:18 Or Sheol

Proverbs 10

a 10:21 Literally heart

Proverbs 11

a 11:5 Or make smooth or straight

b 11:21 Literally hand to hand

Proverbs 12

a 12:4 Literally A wife of valor

b 12:11 Literally heart

Proverbs 13

a 13:23 Literally what is swept away

Proverbs 14

a 14:14 Literally from above himself

b 14:23 Literally talk of the lips

c 14:29 Literally short of spirit

Proverbs 15

a 15:11 Or Sheol

b 15:11 Hebrew Abaddon

c 15:17 Or vegetables

d 15:24 Or Sheol

e 15:30 Literally fat

Proverbs 16

a 16:5 Literally hand to hand

Proverbs 17

a 17:1 Or sacrificial meals

b 17:22 Or makes medicine even better

c 17:23 Literally from the bosom

Proverbs 18

a 18:8 A Jewish tradition reads wounds.

b 18:24 Following Greek manuscripts, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate; Masoretic Text reads may come to ruin.

Proverbs 19

a 19:16 Literally despises, figurative of recklessness or carelessness

b 19:18 Literally to put him to death; a Jewish tradition reads on his crying.

c 19:24 Septuagint and Syriac read bosom; Targum and Vulgate read armpit.

Proverbs 20

a 20:2 Literally fear or terror which is produced by the king’s wrath

b 20:14 Literally evil, evil

c 20:27 Literally the rooms of the belly

d 20:30 Literally the rooms of the belly

Proverbs 21

a 21:4 Or lamp

b 21:6 Septuagint reads Pursue vanity on the snares of death; Vulgate reads Is vain and foolish, and shall stumble on the snares of death; Targum reads They shall be destroyed, and they shall fall who seek death.

c 21:7 Literally drag them away

d 21:8 Or The way of a man is perverse and strange

e 21:14 Literally in the bosom

f 21:29 Qere and Septuagint read understands.

Proverbs 23

a 23:6 Literally one who has an evil eye

b 23:14 Or Sheol

Proverbs 24

a 24:28 Septuagint and Vulgate read Do not deceive.

Proverbs 26

a 26:10 The Hebrew is difficult; ancient and modern translators differ greatly.

b 26:15 Compare 19:24

Proverbs 27

a 27:20 Or Sheol

b 27:20 Hebrew Abaddon

Proverbs 29

a 29:10 Literally soul

b 29:11 Literally spirit

c 29:18 Or prophetic vision

d 29:24 Literally hears the adjuration

Proverbs 30

a 30:16 Or Sheol

b 30:26 Or hyraxes

c 30:28 Or lizard

d 30:31 Exact identity unknown

e 30:31 A Jewish tradition reads a king against whom there is no uprising.

Proverbs 31

a 31:8 Literally sons of passing away

b 31:10 Verses 10 through 31 are an alphabetic acrostic in Hebrew (compare Psalm 119).

c 31:10 Literally a wife of valor, in the sense of all forms of excellence