28:1 The wicked person flees when there is no one pursuing, 3
but the righteous person is as confident 4 as a lion.
28:2 When a country is rebellious 5 it has many princes, 6
but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable 7 order is maintained. 8
2:16 Bravehearted 9 warriors will run away naked in that day.”
The Lord is speaking!
1 tn Heb “if they come in peace, take them alive; if they come for battle, take them alive.”
2 tn Heb “each struck down his man.”
3 sn The line portrays the insecurity of a guilty person – he flees because he has a guilty conscience, or because he is suspicious of others around him, or because he fears judgment.
4 tn The verb בָּטַח (batakh) means “to trust; to be secure; to be confident.” Cf. KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT “bold.”
5 sn The Hebrew word translated “rebellious” has rebellion as its basic meaning, and that is the idea here. The proverb is describing a time when sinfulness brings about social and political unrest.
6 tn Heb “many are its princes” (so NASB).
7 tn Heb “a man who understands [and] knows”; NRSV “an intelligent ruler”; NLT “wise and knowledgeable leaders.”
8 tc The LXX reads (probably from a different underlying Hebrew text): “It is the fault of a violent man that quarrels start, but they are settled by a man of discernment.” For a survey of suggestions, see C. H. Toy, Proverbs (ICC), 495, and W. McKane, Proverbs (OTL), 630.
9 tn Or “the most stouthearted” (NAB); NRSV “those who are stout of heart.”