Amsal 2:11
Konteks2:11 Discretion 1 will protect you, 2
understanding will guard you,
Amsal 3:28
Konteks3:28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go! Return tomorrow
and I will give it,” when 3 you have it with you at the time. 4
Amsal 13:3
Konteks13:3 The one who guards his words 5 guards his life,
but 6 whoever is talkative 7 will come to ruin. 8
Amsal 23:26
Konteks23:26 Give me your heart, my son, 9
and let your eyes observe my ways;
Amsal 25:6
Konteks25:6 Do not honor yourself before the king,
and do not stand in the place of great men;
[2:11] 1 tn The word מְזִמָּה (mÿzimmah, “discretion”) is the ability to know the best course of action for achieving one’s goal. It is knowledge and understanding with a purpose. This kind of knowledge enables one to make the right choices that will protect him from blunders and their consequences (cf. NLT “wise planning”; CEV “sound judgment”).
[2:11] 2 tn Heb “will watch over you.”
[3:28] 3 tn Heb “and it is with you.” The prefixed vav introduces a circumstantial clause: “when …”
[3:28] 4 tn The words “at the time” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity.
[13:3] 5 tn Heb “mouth” (so KJV, NAB). The term פֶּה (peh, “mouth”) functions as a metonymy of cause for speech.
[13:3] 6 tn The term “but” does not appear in the Hebrew but is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity and smoothness.
[13:3] 7 tn Heb “opens wide his lips.” This is an idiom meaning “to be talkative” (BDB 832 s.v. פָּשַׂק Qal). Cf. NIV “speaks rashly”; TEV “a careless talker”; CEV “talk too much.”
[13:3] 8 sn Tight control over what one says prevents trouble (e.g., Prov 10:10; 17:28; Jas 3:1-12; Sir 28:25). Amenemope advises to “sleep a night before speaking” (5:15; ANET 422, n. 10). The old Arab proverb is appropriate: “Take heed that your tongue does not cut your throat” (O. Zockler, Proverbs, 134).
[23:26] 9 tn Heb “my son”; the reference to a “son” is retained in the translation here because in the following lines the advice is to avoid women who are prostitutes.
