3:2 for they will provide 1 a long and full life, 2
and they will add well-being 3 to you.
4:10 Listen, my child, 4 and accept my words,
so that 5 the years of your life will be many. 6
9:11 For because 7 of me your days will be many,
and years will be added 8 to your life.
10:27 Fearing the Lord 9 prolongs life, 10
but the life span 11 of the wicked will be shortened. 12
1 tn The phrase “they will provide” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for the sake of smoothness.
2 tn Heb “length of days and years of life” (so NASB, NRSV). The idiom “length of days” refers to a prolonged life and “years of life” signifies a long time full of life, a life worth living (T. T. Perowne, Proverbs, 51). The term “life” refers to earthly felicity combined with spiritual blessedness (BDB 313 s.v. חַיִּים).
3 tn The noun שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “peace”) here means “welfare, health, prosperity” (BDB 1022 s.v. 3). It can be used of physical health and personal well-being. It is the experience of positive blessing and freedom from negative harm and catastrophe.
4 tn Heb “my son” (likewise in v. 20).
5 tn The vav prefixed to the imperfect verb follows an imperative; this volitive sequence depicts purpose/result.
6 tn Heb “and the years of life will be many for you.”
7 tn The preposition בּ (bet) here may have the causal sense (R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 45, §247), although it could also be means (Williams, 44, §243).
8 tn The verb וְיוֹסִיפוּ (vÿyosifu) is the Hiphil imperfect, third masculine plural; but because there is no expressed subject the verb may be taken as a passive.
10 tn Heb “the fear of the
11 tn Heb “days” (so KJV, ASV).
12 tn Heb “years.” The term “years” functions as a synecdoche of part (= years) for the whole (= lifespan).
13 sn This general saying has to be qualified with the problem of the righteous suffering and dying young, a problem that perplexed the sages of the entire ancient world. But this is the general principle: The righteous live longer because their life is the natural one and because God blesses them.