22:1 When you see 1 your neighbor’s 2 ox or sheep going astray, do not ignore it; 3 you must return it without fail 4 to your neighbor. 22:2 If the owner 5 does not live 6 near you or you do not know who the owner is, 7 then you must corral the animal 8 at your house and let it stay with you until the owner looks for it; then you must return it to him. 22:3 You shall do the same to his donkey, his clothes, or anything else your neighbor 9 has lost and you have found; you must not refuse to get involved. 10 22:4 When you see 11 your neighbor’s donkey or ox fallen along the road, do not ignore it; 12 instead, you must be sure 13 to help him get the animal on its feet again. 14
12:10 A righteous person cares for 15 the life of his animal,
but even the most compassionate acts 16 of the wicked are cruel.
1 tn Heb “you must not see,” but, if translated literally into English, the statement is misleading.
2 tn Heb “brother’s” (also later in this verse). In this context it is not limited to one’s siblings, however; cf. NAB “your kinsman’s.”
3 tn Heb “hide yourself.”
4 tn The Hebrew text uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis, which the translation indicates with the words “without fail.”
5 tn Heb “your brother” (also later in this verse).
6 tn Heb “is not.” The idea of “residing” is implied.
7 tn Heb “and you do not know him.”
8 tn Heb “it”; the referent (the ox or sheep mentioned in v. 1) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
9 tn Heb “your brother” (also in v. 4).
10 tn Heb “you must not hide yourself.”
11 tn Heb “you must not see.” See note at 22:1.
12 tn Heb “and (must not) hide yourself from them.”
13 tn The Hebrew text uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis, which the translation indicates with “be sure.”
14 tn Heb “help him to lift them up.” In keeping with English style the singular is used in the translation, and the referent (“the animal”) has been specified for clarity.
15 tn Heb “knows”; NLT “concerned for the welfare of.” The righteous take care of animals, not just people.
16 tn Heb “but the mercies.” The additional words appear in the translation for the sake of clarification. The line can be interpreted in two ways: (1) when the wicked exhibit a kind act, they do it in a cruel way, or (2) even the kindest of their acts is cruel by all assessments, e.g., stuffing animals with food to fatten them for market – their “kindness” is driven by ulterior motives (J. H. Greenstone, Proverbs, 129).