49:3 I will declare a wise saying; 1
I will share my profound thoughts. 2
22:20 Have I not written thirty sayings 3 for you,
sayings 4 of counsel and knowledge,
22:21 to show you true and reliable words, 5
so that you may give accurate answers 6 to those who sent you?
1 tn Heb “my mouth will speak wisdom.” According to BDB 315 s.v. חָכְמָה the plural חָכְמוֹת (khokhmot, “wisdom”) indicates degree or emphasis here.
2 tn Heb “and the meditation of my heart [i.e., mind] is understanding.” The Hebrew term הָגוּת (hagut, “meditation”), derived from הָגָה (hagah, “to recite quietly; to meditate”), here refers to thoughts that are verbalized (see the preceding line). The plural form תְבוּנוֹת (tÿvunot, “understanding”) indicates degree or emphasis (see GKC 397-98 §124.e).
3 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).
4 tn The term “sayings” does not appear in the Hebrew text but is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.
5 tn Heb “to cause you to know the truth of words of truth” (NASB similar).
6 tn Heb “to return true words”; NAB “a dependable report”; NIV “sound answers.”