Amsal 6:23

6:23 For the commandments ¹  are like ²  a lamp, ³ 

instruction is like a light,

and rebukes of discipline are like ⁴  the road leading to life, ⁵ 

Amsal 25:14

25:14 Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain, ⁶ 

so is the one who boasts ⁷  of a gift not given. ⁸ 

[6:23]  ¹ tn Heb “the commandment” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV).

[6:23]  ² tn The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.

[6:23]  ³ sn The terms “lamp,” “light,” and “way” are all metaphors. The positive teachings and commandments will illumine or reveal to the disciple the way to life; the disciplinary correctives will provide guidance into fullness of life.

[6:23]  ⁴ tn The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.

[6:23]  ⁵ tn Heb “the way of life” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV); NIV, NLT “the way to life.” The noun “life” is a genitive following the construct “way.” It could be an attributive genitive modifying the kind of way/course of life that instruction provides, but it could also be objective in that the course of life followed would produce and lead to life.

[25:14]  ⁶ sn The emblem now is one of clouds and winds that would be expected to produce rain; they gain attention and raise people’s expectations but prove to be disappointing when no rain is forthcoming, and hence could be thought of as deceitful.

[25:14]  ⁷ tn The form מִתְהַלֵּל (mithallel) is the Hitpael participle of the well-known word for “praise”; but in this stem it means “to praise oneself” or “to boast.” The description of “windbag” seems appropriate in this context.

[25:14]  ⁸ tn Heb “a gift of falsehood.” This would mean that the individual brags about giving a gift, when there is no gift.