22:20 Have I not written thirty sayings 1 for you,
sayings 2 of counsel and knowledge,
22:21 to show you true and reliable words, 3
so that you may give accurate answers 4 to those who sent you?
1 tn Older English versions and a few more recent ones render this phrase as either “excellent things” following the Qere (so KJV, ASV, NASB, NKJV), “officers,” or “heretofore” [day before yesterday], following the Kethib. However (as in most recent English versions) the Qere should be rendered “thirty,” referring to the number in the collection (cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).
2 tn The term “sayings” does not appear in the Hebrew text but is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.
3 tn Heb “to cause you to know the truth of words of truth” (NASB similar).
4 tn Heb “to return true words”; NAB “a dependable report”; NIV “sound answers.”