Proverbs 18:17

18:17 The first to state his case ¹  seems ²  right,

until his opponent ³  begins to ⁴  cross-examine him. ⁵ 

Proverbs 20:21

20:21 An inheritance gained easily ⁶  in the beginning

will not be blessed ⁷  in the end. ⁸ 

[18:17]  ¹ tn Heb “in his legal case”; NAB “who pleads his case first.”

[18:17]  ² tn The term “seems” does not appear in the Hebrew but is supplied in the translation for the sake of smoothness (cf. KJV “seemeth”).

[18:17]  ³ tn Heb “his neighbor”; NRSV “the other.”

[18:17]  ⁴ tn Heb “comes and.” The Kethib is the imperfect יָבֹא (yavo’), and the Qere is the conjunction with the participle/perfect tense form וּבָא (uva’). The latter is reflected in most of the ancient versions. There is not an appreciable difference in the translations, except for the use of the conjunction.

[18:17]  ⁵ sn The proverb is a continuous sentence teaching that there must be cross-examination to settle legal disputes. There are two sides in any disputes, and so even though the first to present his case sounds right, it must be challenged. The verb הָקַר (haqar, translated “cross-examines”) is used for careful, diligent searching and investigating to know something (e.g., Ps 139:1).

[20:21]  ⁶ tc The Kethib reads מְבֻחֶלֶת (mÿbukhelet), “gotten by greed” (based on a cognate Syriac verb, “to be greedy”); but the Qere is מְבֹהֶלֶת (mÿvohelet), “gotten hastily [or, quickly].” A large number of mss and the ancient versions read with the Qere (cf. KJV, ASV “gotten hastily”; NAB “gained hastily”; NIV “quickly gained”; NRSV “quickly acquired”).

[20:21]  ⁷ tn The form is the Pual imperfect, “will not be blessed,” suggesting that divine justice is at work.

[20:21]  ⁸ tn Heb “in its end”; KJV, ASV “the end thereof.”