12:23 The shrewd person 1 conceals 2 knowledge,
but foolish people 3 publicize folly. 4
30:10 They 5 say to the visionaries, “See no more visions!”
and to the seers, “Don’t relate messages to us about what is right! 6
Tell us nice things,
relate deceptive messages. 7
44:20 He feeds on ashes; 8
his deceived mind misleads him.
He cannot rescue himself,
nor does he say, ‘Is this not a false god I hold in my right hand?’ 9
12:1 Ephraim continually feeds on the wind;
he chases the east wind all day;
he multiplies lies and violence.
They make treaties 10 with Assyria,
and send olive oil as tribute 11 to Egypt.
1 tn Heb “a shrewd man” (so NAB); KJV, NIV “a prudent man”; NRSV “One who is clever.”
2 sn The term כֹּסֶה (koseh, “covers; hides”) does not mean that he never shares his knowledge, but discerns when it is and is not appropriate to speak.
3 tn Heb “the heart of fools.” The term לֵב (lev, “heart”) functions as a synecdoche of part (= heart) for the whole (= person): “foolish people.” This type of fool despises correction and instruction. His intent is to proclaim all that he does – which is folly. W. McKane says that the more one speaks, the less likely he is able to speak effectively (Proverbs [OTL], 422). Cf. TEV “stupid people advertise their ignorance”; NLT “fools broadcast their folly.”
4 sn The noun אִוֶּלֶת (’ivvelet, “foolishness; folly”) is the antithesis of perception and understanding. It is related to the noun אֱוִּיל (’evvil, “fool”), one who is morally bad because he despises wisdom and discipline, mocks at guilt, is licentious and quarrelsome, and is almost impossible to rebuke.
5 tn Heb “who” (so NASB, NRSV). A new sentence was started here in the translation for stylistic reasons.
6 tn Heb “Do not see for us right things.”
7 tn Heb “Tell us smooth things, see deceptive things.”
8 tn Or perhaps, “he eats on an ash heap.”
9 tn Heb “Is it not a lie in my right hand?”
10 tn Heb “a treaty” (so NIV, NRSV); KJV, NASB “a covenant”; NAB “comes to terms.”
11 tn The phrase “as tribute” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity. Cf. NCV “send a gift of olive oil.”