Proverbs 22:20-21

Context

22:20 Have I not written thirty sayings¹ for you,

sayings² of counsel and knowledge,

22:21 to show you true and reliable words,³

so that you may give accurate answers⁴ to those who sent you?

[22:20] ¹tn 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).

[22:20] ²tn The term “sayings” does not appear in the Hebrew text but is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.

[22:21] ³tn Heb “to cause you to know the truth of words of truth” (NASB similar).

[22:21] ⁴tn Heb “to return true words”; NAB “a dependable report”; NIV “sound answers.”