Amsal 21:9

21:9 It is better to live on a corner of the housetop ¹ 

than in a house in company ²  with a quarrelsome wife. ³ 

Amsal 25:24

25:24 It is better to live on a corner of the housetop

than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife. ⁴ 

Amsal 26:24

26:24 The one who hates others disguises ⁵  it with his lips,

but he stores up ⁶  deceit within him. ⁷ 

[21:9]  ¹ tn English versions which translate the Hebrew term as “roof” here sometimes produce amusing images for modern readers: TEV “Better to live on the roof”; CEV “It’s better to stay outside on the roof of your house.”

[21:9]  sn The reference is probably to a small room that would be built on the flat housetop primarily for guests (e.g., 1 Kgs 17:19; 2 Kgs 4:10). It would be cramped and lonely – but peaceful in avoiding strife.

[21:9]  ² tn The “house of company” has received numerous interpretations. The word “company” or “companionship” would qualify “house” as a place to be shared. The BHS editors propose “spacious house,” which would call for a transposition of letters (cf. NAB “a roomy house”; NLT “a lovely home”). Such an emendation makes good sense, but has no external support.

[21:9]  ³ tn Heb “a wife of contentions”; KJV “a brawling woman”; TEV, CEV “a nagging wife.” The Greek version has no reference to a quarrelsome wife, but instead mentions justice in a common house.

[25:24]  ⁴ tn This proverb is identical with 21:9; see the notes there.

[26:24]  ⁵ tn The Niphal imperfect from נָכַר (nakhar) means “to act [or, treat] as a foreigner [or, stranger]; to misconstrue; to disguise.” The direct object (“it”) is not present in the Hebrew text but is implied. In this passage it means that the hater speaks what is “foreign” to his thought; in other words, he dissembles.

[26:24]  ⁶ tn Or “places; puts; lays up” (cf. KJV, ASV, NASB).

[26:24]  ⁷ tn Heb “within him” (so KJV, ASV) or “in his midst”; NAB “in his inmost being.”

[26:24]  sn Hypocritical words may hide a wicked heart. The proverb makes an observation: One who in reality despises other people will often disguise that with what he says.