8:12 Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes 1 and still live a long time, 2
yet I know that it will go well with God-fearing people 3 – for they stand in fear 4 before him.
3:10 Tell the innocent 5 it will go well with them, 6
for they will be rewarded for what they have done. 7
22:15 Does it make you any more of a king
that you outstrip everyone else in 8 building with cedar?
Just think about your father.
He was content that he had food and drink. 9
He did what was just and right. 10
So things went well with him.
22:1 The Lord told me, 11 “Go down 12 to the palace of the king of Judah. Give him a message from me there. 13
1:1 From Paul, 14 an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
1 tn Heb “does evil one hundred [times].”
2 tn Heb “and prolongs his [life].”
3 tn Heb “those who fear God.”
4 tn Heb “they fear.”
5 tn Or “the righteous” (KJV, NASB, NIV, TEV); NLT “those who are godly.”
6 tn Heb “that it is good.”
7 tn Heb “for the fruit of their deeds they will eat.”
8 tn For the use of this verb see Jer 12:5 where it is used of Jeremiah “competing” with horses. The form is a rare Tiphel (see GKC 153 §55.h).
9 tn Heb “Your father, did he not eat and drink and do justice and right.” The copulative vav in front of the verbs here (all Hebrew perfects) shows that these actions are all coordinate not sequential. The contrast drawn here between the actions of Jehoiakim and Josiah show that the phrase eating and drinking should be read in the light of the same contrasts in Eccl 2 which ends with the note of contentment in Eccl 2:24 (see also Eccl 3:13; 5:18 [5:17 HT]; 8:15). The question is, of course, rhetorical setting forth the positive role model against which Jehoiakim’s actions are to be condemned. The key terms here are “then things went well with him” which is repeated in the next verse after the reiteration of Josiah’s practice of justice.
10 sn The father referred to here is the godly king Josiah. He followed the requirements for kings set forth in 22:3 in contrast to his son who did not (22:13).
11 tn The word “me “ is not in the text. It is, however, implicit and is supplied in the translation for clarity.
12 sn The allusion here is to going down from the temple to the palace which was on a lower eminence. See 36:12 in its context.
13 tn Heb “And speak there this word:” The translation is intended to eliminate an awkward and lengthy sentence.
14 tn Grk “Paul.” The word “from” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.
15 tn Grk “be.”
16 tn Grk “will be.”
17 sn A quotation from Deut 5:16.