Psalms 25:14

25:14 The Lord’s loyal followers receive his guidance, ¹ 

and he reveals his covenantal demands to them. ² 

Proverbs 14:10

14:10 The heart knows its own bitterness, ³ 

and with its joy no one else ⁴  can share. ⁵ 

Revelation 2:17

2:17 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, ⁶  I will give him some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white ⁷  stone, ⁸  and on that stone will be written a new name that no one can understand ⁹  except the one who receives it.’

¹ tn Heb “the advice of the Lord belongs to those who fear him.”

² tn Heb “and his covenant, to make them know.”

³ tn Heb “bitterness of its soul.”

⁴ tn Heb “stranger” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV).

⁵ tn The verb is the Hitpael of II עָרַב (’arav), which means “to take in pledge; to give in pledge; to exchange.” Here it means “to share [in].” The proverb is saying that there are joys and sorrows that cannot be shared. No one can truly understand the deepest feelings of another.

⁶ tn Or “who is victorious”; traditionally, “who overcomes.” The pendent dative is allowed to stand in the English translation because it is characteristic of the author’s style in Revelation.

⁷ tn Or “bright.” The Greek term λευκός (leukos) can refer either to the color white (traditional here) or to an object that is bright or shining, either from itself or from an outside source of illumination (L&N 14.50; 79.27).

⁸ tn On the interpretation of the stone, L&N 2.27 states, “A number of different suggestions have been made as to the reference of ψῆφος in this context. Some scholars believe that the white ψῆφος indicates a vote of acquittal in court. Others contend that it is simply a magical amulet; still others, a token of Roman hospitality; and finally, some have suggested that it may represent a ticket to the gladiatorial games, that is to say, to martyrdom. The context, however, suggests clearly that this is something to be prized and a type of reward for those who have ‘won the victory.’”

⁹ tn Or “know”; for the meaning “understand” see L&N 32.4.