Amsal 3:29-30

3:29 Do not plot ¹  evil against your neighbor

when ²  he dwells by you unsuspectingly.

3:30 Do not accuse ³  anyone ⁴  without legitimate cause, ⁵ 

if he has not treated you wrongly.

Amsal 4:27

4:27 Do not turn ⁶  to the right or to the left;

turn yourself ⁷  away from evil. ⁸ 

Amsal 5:7

5:7 So now, children, ⁹  listen to me;

do not turn aside from the words I speak. ¹⁰ 

[3:29]  ¹ sn The verb חָרַשׁ (kharash) means “to cut in; to engrave; to plough; to devise.” The idea of plotting is metaphorical for working, practicing or fabricating (BDB 360 s.v.).

[3:29]  ² tn The vav (ו) prefixed to the pronoun introduces a disjunctive circumstantial clause: “when….”

[3:30]  ³ sn The term רִיב (riv) can mean “quarrel” or “legal accusation” (BDB 936 s.v.). Both ideas would work but the more technical legal accusation fits the context better. This is a warning to not bring legal accusations against anyone without a legitimate reason.

[3:30]  ⁴ tn Heb “a man.”

[3:30]  ⁵ tn Heb “gratuitously”; NIV, TEV “for no (+ good NCV) reason.” The adverb חִנָּם (khinam) means “without cause, undeservedly,” especially of groundless hostility (HALOT 334 s.v. 3; BDB 336 s.v. c).

[4:27]  ⁶ sn The two verbs in this verse are from different roots, but nonetheless share the same semantic domain. The first verb is תֵּט (tet), a jussive from נָטָה (natah), which means “to turn aside” (Hiphil); the second verb is the Hiphil imperative of סוּר (sur), which means “to cause to turn to the side” (Hiphil). The disciple is not to leave the path of righteousness; but to stay on the path he must leave evil.

[4:27]  ⁷ tn Heb “your foot” (so NAB, NIV, NRSV). The term רַגְלְךָ (raglÿkha, “your foot”) is a synecdoche of part (= foot) for the whole person (= “yourself”).

[4:27]  ⁸ tc The LXX adds, “For the way of the right hand God knows, but those of the left hand are distorted; and he himself will make straight your paths and guide your goings in peace.” The ideas presented here are not out of harmony with Proverbs, but the section clearly shows an expansion by the translator. For a brief discussion of whether this addition is Jewish or early Christian, see C. H. Toy, Proverbs (ICC), 99.

[5:7]  ⁹ tn Heb “sons.”

[5:7]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “the words of my mouth” (so KJV, NAB, NRSV).