Proverbs

[John Reece]

Proverbs 4:22b

Text (BHS):

שָׁמְרֵם בְּתוֹךְ לְבָבֶךָ

Transliteration (Accordance):

šāmᵉrēm bᵉṯôḵ lᵉḇāḇeḵā

Translation (NRSV):

keep them within your heart.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

שָׁמְרֵם (šāmᵉrēm) : Qal imperative 2 m.s. of שָׁמַר (šāmar) + 3 m.p. suffix : keep them.
בְּתוֹךְ (bᵉṯôḵ) : prep. בְּ (bᵉ) + construct of תָוֶךְ (ṯāweḵ) : within.
לְבָבֶךָ (lᵉḇāḇeḵā) : noun לֵב (lēḇ) + 2 m.s. suffix : your heart.

[John Reece]

Proverbs 4:23a

Text (BHS):

מִכָּל־מִשְׁמָר נְצֹר לִבֶּךָ

Transliteration (Accordance):

mikkol-mišmār nᵉṣōr libbeḵā

Translation (Waltke):

above every* watch**, guard your heart

*Probably a comparative mem. A similar expression occurs in Ahiqar 98: "More than all watchfulness watch your mouth" (ANET, p. 428). The LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate, which read "with all watchfulness," suggest retroverting beth. Targum and later Greek recensions read the more difficult min.
**BDB (p. 582, s.v. min) notes that "sometimes in poetry the idea on which the comparative is dependent is unexpressed, and must be supplied by the reader." The full idea is, "more important than every watch that you must guard."

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

מִכָּל־מִשְׁמָר (mikkol-mišmār) : prep. מִן (min) + construct of כֹּל (kōl) + noun מִשְׁמָר (mišmār) : above every watch.
נְצֹר לִבֶּךָ (nᵉṣōr libbeḵā) : Qal imperative 2 m.s of נָצַר (nāṣar) + noun לֵב (lēḇ) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : guard your heart.

[John Reece]

Proverbs 4:23b

Text (BHS):

כִּי־מִמֶּנּוּ תּוֹצְאוֹת חַיִּים

Transliteration (Accordance):

kı̂-mimmennû tôṣᵉʾôṯ ḥayyı̂m

Translation (Waltke):

for everything you do flows* from it.**

*Min is governed by an elided verb of motion (...).
**The LXX reads "for from these," probably taking "words" in verse 20 as the antecedent.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

כִּי־מִמֶּנּוּ (kı̂-mimmennû) : conj. כִּי (kı̂) + prep. מִן (min) + 3 m.s. suffix : for from it [flow].*
תּוֹצְאוֹת (tôṣᵉʾôṯ) : plural construct of תּוֹצָאָה (tôṣāʾāh) : the sources of.
חַיִּים (ḥayyı̂m) : life.

[John Reece]

Proverbs 4:24a

Text (BHS):

הָסֵר מִמְּךָ עִקְּשׁוּת פֶּה

Transliteration (Accordance):

hāsēr mimmᵉḵā ʿiqqᵉšûṯ peh

Translation (CEB):

Have nothing to do with a corrupt mouth

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

הָסֵר מִמְּךָ (hāsēr mimmᵉḵā) : Hiphil imperative 2 m.s. of סוּר (sûr) + prep. מִן (min) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : keep away from you.
עִקְּשׁוּת פֶּה (ʿiqqᵉšûṯ peh) : construct עִקְּשׁוּת (ʿiqqᵉšûṯ) + noun פֶּה (peh) : crookedness of mouth (BDB).

[John Reece]

Proverbs 4:24b

Text (BHS):

וּלְזוּת שְׂפָתַיִם הַרְחֵק מִמֶּךָּ

Transliteration (Accordance):

ûlᵉzûṯ śᵉp̱āṯayim harḥēq mimmeḵā

Translation (NRSV):

and put devious talk far from you.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

וּלְזוּת שְׂפָתַיִם (ûlᵉzûṯ śᵉp̱āṯayim) : conj. וּ (û) + construct לְזוּת (lᵉzûṯ) + dual of שָׂפָה (śāp̱āh) : and devious lips.
הַרְחֵק (harḥēq) : Hiphil imperative 2 m.s. of רָחַק (rāḥaq) : put far.
מִמֶּךָּ (mimmeḵā) : prep. מִן (min) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : from you.

[John Reece]

Proverbs 4:25a

Text (BHS):

עֵינֶיךָ לְנֹכַח יַבִּיטוּ

Transliteration (Accordance):

ʿênêḵā lᵉnōḵaḥ yabbı̂ṭû

Translation (NRSV):

Let your eyes look directly forward

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

עֵינֶיךָ (ʿênêḵā ) : plural of עַיִן (ʿayin ) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : your eyes.
לְנֹכַח (lᵉnōḵaḥ) : prep. לְ (lᵉ) + adverb נֹכַח (nōḵaḥ) : directly forward.
יַבִּיטוּ (yabbı̂ṭû) : Hiphil imperative 3 m.p. of נָבַט (nāḇaṭ) : let them look.

[John Reece]

Proverbs 4:25b

Text (BHS):

וְעַפְעַפֶּיךָ יַיְשִׁרוּ נֶגְדֶּךָ

Transliteration (Accordance):

wᵉʿap̱ʿappêḵā yayširû neg̱deḵā

Translation (NRSV):

and your gaze be straight before you.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

וְעַפְעַפֶּיךָ (wᵉʿap̱ʿappêḵā ) : conj. וְ (wᵉ) + plural of עַפְעַף (ʿap̱ʿap̱) + 2 m.s. suffix : and your eyelids/eyes.
יַיְשִׁרוּ (yayširû) : Hiphil imperfect 3 m.p. of יָשַׁר (yāšar) : be straight.
נֶגְדֶּךָ (neg̱deḵā) : prep. נֶגֶד (neg̱eḏ) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : before you.

[John Reece]

Proverbs 4:26a

Text (BHS):

פַּלֵּס מַעְגַּל רַגְלֶךָ

Transliteration (Accordance):

pallēs maʿgal rag̱leḵā

Translation (RSV):

Take heed to the path of your feet,

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

פַּלֵּס (pallēs) : Piel imperative 2 m.s. of II פָּלַס (pālas) : observe, examine (HALOT).
מַעְגַּל (maʿgal) : construct : the track of = figurative for course of action or way of life (BDB).
רַגְלֶךָ (rag̱leḵā) : noun רֶגֶל (reg̱el) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : your feet.

[John Reece]

Proverbs 4:26b

Text (BHS):

וְכָל־דְּרָכֶיךָ יִכֹּנוּ

Transliteration (Accordance):

wᵉḵol-dᵉrāḵêḵā yikkōnû

Translation (RSV):

then all your ways will be sure.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

וְכָל־דְּרָכֶיךָ (wᵉḵol-dᵉrāḵêḵā) : conj וְ (wᵉ) + construct of כֹּל (kōl) + noun דֶּרֶךְ (dereḵ) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : then all your ways.
יִכֹּנוּ (yikkōnû) : Niphal imperfect 3 m.p. of כּוּן (kûn) : will be sure.

[John Reece]

Proverbs 4:27a

Text (BHS):

אַל־תֵּט־יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול

Transliteration (Accordance):

ʾal-tēṭ-yāmı̂n ûśᵉmōʾwl

Translation (RSV):

Do not swerve to the right or to the left

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

אַל־תֵּט־יָמִין (ʾal-tēṭ-yāmı̂n) : negation אַל (ʾal) + Qal imperfect 2 m.s. jussive of נָטָה (nāṭāh) + noun יָמִין (yāmı̂n) : do not turn right.
וּשְׂמֹאול (ûśᵉmōʾwl) : conj. וּ (û) + noun שְׂמֹאול (śᵉmōʾwl) : or left.

[John Reece]

Proverbs 4:27b

Text (BHS):

הָסֵר רַגְלְךָ מֵרָע

Transliteration (Accordance):

hāsēr rag̱lᵉḵā mērāʿ

Translation (RSV):

turn your foot away from evil.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

הָסֵר (hāsēr) : Hiphil imperative 2 m.s. of סוּר (sûr) : turn away.
רַגְלְךָ (rag̱lᵉḵā) : noun רֶגֶל (reg̱el) + pronominal 2 m.s suffix : your foot.
מֵרָע (mērāʿ) : prep. מִן (min) + noun רַע (raʿ) : from evil.

[John Reece]

Proverbs 5:1a

Text (BHS):

בְּנִי לְחָכְמָתִי הַקְשִׁיבָה

Transliteration (Accordance):

bᵉnı̂ lᵉḥoḵmâṯı̂ haqšı̂ḇāh

Translation (RSV):

My son, be attentive to my wisdom

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

בְּנִי (bᵉnı̂) : noun בֵּן (bēn) + pronominal 1 c.s. suffix : my son.
לְחָכְמָתִי (lᵉḥoḵmâṯı̂) : prep. לְ (lᵉ) + noun חָכְמָה (ḥoḵmâ) + pronominal 1 c.s. suffix : to my wisdom.
הַקְשִׁיבָה (haqšı̂ḇāh) : Hiphil imperative 2 m.s. (+ voluntative ה) of קָשַׁב (qāšaḇ) : be attentive.

[John Reece]

Proverbs 5:1b

Text (BHS):

לִתְבוּנָתִי הַט־אָזְנֶךָ

Transliteration (Accordance):

liṯḇûnāṯı̂ haṭ-ʾozneḵā

Translation (RSV):

incline your ear to my understanding

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

לִתְבוּנָתִי (liṯḇûnāṯı̂) : prep. לְ (lᵉ) + noun תְּבוּנָה (tᵉḇûnāh) + pronominal 1 c.s. suffix : to my understanding.
הַט (haṭ) : Hiphil imperative 2 m.s. of נָטָה (nāṭāh) : incline.
אָזְנֶךָ (ʾozneḵā) : noun אֹזֶן (ʾōzen) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : your ear.

[John Reece]

Proverbs 5:2a

Text (BHS):

לִשְׁמֹר מְזִמּוֹת

Transliteration (Accordance):

lišmōr mᵉzimmôṯ

Translation (RSV):

that you may keep discretion

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

לִשְׁמֹר (lišmōr) : prep. לְ (lᵉ) + Qal infinitive construct of שָׁמַר (šāmar) : that you may keep.
מְזִמּוֹת (mᵉzimmôṯ) : abstract plural (Waltke/IBHS) : discretion.

[John Reece]

Proverbs 5:2b

Text (BHS):

וְדַעַת שְׂפָתֶיךָ יִנְצֹרוּ

Transliteration (Accordance):

wᵉḏaʿaṯ śᵉp̱āṯêḵā yinṣōrû

Translation (RSV):

and your lips may guard knowledge.

Glossary & Analysis (meanings in this context):

וְדַעַת (wᵉḏaʿaṯ) : conjunction וְ (wᵉ) + noun דַעַת (ḏaʿaṯ) : and knowledge.
שְׂפָתֶיךָ (śᵉp̱āṯêḵā) : plural of שָׂפָה (śāp̱āh) + pronominal 2 m.s. suffix : your lips.
יִנְצֹרוּ (yinṣōrû) : Qal imperfect 3 m.p. pausal of נָצַר (nāṣar) : may guard.