Proverbs 10:29

10:29 The way of the Lord ¹  is like ²  a stronghold for the upright, ³ 

but it is destruction ⁴  to evildoers. ⁵ 

Proverbs 21:15

21:15 Doing ⁶  justice brings ⁷  joy to the righteous

and terror ⁸  to those who do evil.

[10:29]  ¹ sn The “way of the Lord” is an idiom for God’s providential administration of life; it is what the Lord does (“way” being a hypocatastasis).

[10:29]  ² tn The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.

[10:29]  ³ tn Heb “for the one with integrity” (לַתֹּם, latom).

[10:29]  ⁴ tn Or “ruin” (so NIV).

[10:29]  ⁵ tn Heb “those who practice iniquity.”

[21:15]  ⁶ tn The Qal infinitive construct עֲשׂוֹת (’asot) functions as the subject of the sentence.

[21:15]  ⁷ tn The term “brings” is supplied in the translation; many English versions supply a simple copula (“is”).

[21:15]  ⁸ sn The noun means “terror (NAB, NASB, NIV), destruction (KJV, ASV), ruin (cf. NCV).” Its related verb means “be shattered, dismayed.” The idea of “dismay” (NRSV) or “terror” would make the better choice to contrast with “joy” in the first line, but “ruin” is also possible. Whenever justice prevails, whether in the courts or simply in society, the people who practice iniquity may be shaken into reality by fear (cf. CEV “crooks are terrified”).