Proverbs 3:27

Wisdom Demonstrated in Relationships with People

3:27 Do not withhold good from those who need it, ¹ 

when ²  you ³  have the ability ⁴  to help. ⁵ 

Matthew 7:12

7:12 In ⁶  everything, treat others as you would want them ⁷  to treat you, ⁸  for this fulfills ⁹  the law and the prophets.

Romans 13:7-8

13:7 Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

Exhortation to Love Neighbors

13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

[3:27]  ¹ tn The MT has “from its possessors” and the LXX simply has “from the poor.” C. H. Toy (Proverbs [ICC], 77) suggests emending the text to read “neighbors” (changing בְּעָלָיו [be’alav] to רֵעֶיךָ, re’ekha) but that is gratuitous. The idea can be explained as being those who need to possess it, or as BDB 127 s.v. בַּעַל has it with an objective genitive, “the owner of it” = the one to whom it is due.

[3:27]  ² tn The infinitive construct with preposition ב (bet) introduces a temporal clause: “when….”

[3:27]  ³ tc The form יָדֶיךָ (yadekha) is a Kethib/Qere reading. The Kethib is the dual יָדֶיךָ (“your hands”) and the Qere is the singular יָדְךָ (yadÿkha, “your hand”). Normally the Qere is preferred because it represents an alternate textual tradition that the Masoretes viewed as superior to the received text.

[3:27]  ⁴ tn Heb “it is to the power of your hand.” This expression is idiomatic for “it is in your power” or “you have the ability” (Gen 31:29; Deut 28:23; Neh 5:5; Mic 2:1). The noun אֵל (’el) means “power” (BDB 43 s.v. 7), and יָד (yad, “hand”) is used figuratively to denote “ability” (BDB 390 s.v. 2). Several translations render this as “when it is in your power to do it” (KJV, RSV, NRSV, NASB) or “when it is in your power to act” (NIV). W. McKane suggests, “when it is in your power to confer it” (Proverbs [OTL], 215).

[3:27]  ⁵ tn Heb “to do [it]” (cf. KJV, NASB, NRSV).

[7:12]  ⁶ tn Grk “Therefore in.” Here οὖν (oun) has not been translated.

[7:12]  ⁷ tn This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo"), referring to both males and females.

[7:12]  ⁸ sn Jesus’ teaching as reflected in the phrase treat others as you would want them to treat you, known generally as the Golden Rule, is not completely unique in the ancient world, but here it is stated in its most emphatic, selfless form.

[7:12]  ⁹ tn Grk “is.”