Amsal 23:1

23:1 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,

consider carefully ¹  what ²  is before you,

Amsal 29:19

29:19 A servant ³  cannot be corrected ⁴  by words,

for although ⁵  he understands, there is no answer. ⁶ 

[23:1]  ¹ tn The construction uses the imperfect tense of instruction with the infinitive absolute to emphasize the careful discernment required on such occasions. Cf. NIV “note well”; NLT “pay attention.”

[23:1]  ² tn Or “who,” referring to the ruler (so ASV, NAB, TEV).

[29:19]  ³ sn Servants could not be corrected by mere words; they had to be treated like children for they were frequently unresponsive. This, of course, would apply to certain kinds of servants. The Greek version translated this as “a stubborn servant.”

[29:19]  ⁴ tn The Niphal imperfect here is best rendered as a potential imperfect – “cannot be corrected.” The second line of the verse clarifies that even though the servant understands the words, he does not respond. It will take more.

[29:19]  ⁵ tn Heb “for he understands, but there is no answer.” The concessive idea (“although”) is taken from the juxtaposition of the two parts.

[29:19]  ⁶ sn To say “there is no answer” means that this servant does not obey – he has to be trained in a different way.