5:21 For the ways of a person 1 are in front of the Lord’s eyes,
and the Lord 2 weighs 3 all that person’s 4 paths.
8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies,
and desirable things cannot be compared 5 to her.
20:1 Wine 6 is a mocker 7 and strong drink is a brawler;
whoever goes astray by them is not wise. 8
1 tn Heb “man.”
2 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the
3 tn BDB 814 s.v. פָּלַס 2 suggests that the participle מְפַּלֵּס (mÿpalles) means “to make level [or, straight].” As one’s ways are in front of the eyes of the
4 tn Heb “all his”; the referent (the person mentioned in the first half of the verse) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
5 tn The verb יִשְׁווּ (yishvu, from שָׁוָה, shavah) can be rendered “are not comparable” or in a potential nuance “cannot be compared” with her.
9 sn The drinks are wine and barley beer (e.g., Lev 10:9; Deut 14:26; Isa 28:7). These terms here could be understood as personifications, but better as metonymies for those who drink wine and beer. The inebriated person mocks and brawls.
10 tn The two participles לֵץ (lets, “mocker”) and הֹמֶה (homeh, “brawler”) are substantives; they function as predicates in the sentence. Excessive use of intoxicants excites the drinker to boisterous behavior and aggressive attitudes – it turns them into mockers and brawlers.
11 sn The proverb does not prohibit the use of wine or beer; in fact, strong drink was used at festivals and celebrations. But intoxication was considered out of bounds for a member of the covenant community (e.g., 23:20-21, 29-35; 31:4-7). To be led astray by their use is not wise.