Proverbs 26:26

26:26 Though his ¹  hatred may be concealed ²  by deceit,

his evil will be uncovered ³  in the assembly.

Proverbs 5:14

5:14 I almost ⁴  came to complete ruin ⁵ 

in the midst of the whole congregation!” ⁶ 

Proverbs 21:16

21:16 The one who wanders ⁷  from the way of wisdom ⁸ 

will end up ⁹  in the company of the departed. ¹⁰ 

[26:26]  ¹ tn The referent is apparently the individual of vv. 24-25.

[26:26]  ² tn The form תִּכַּסֶּה (tikkasseh) is the Hitpael imperfect (with assimilation); it is probably passive, meaning “is concealed,” although it could mean “conceals itself” (naturally). Since the proverb uses antithetical parallelism, an imperfect tense nuance of possibility (“may be concealed”) works well here (cf. NIV, NLT).

[26:26]  ³ sn The Hebrew verb means “to uncover,” here in the sense of “to reveal; to make known; to expose.” The verse is promising that the evil the person has done will be exposed publicly. The common belief that righteousness will ultimately triumph informs this saying.

[5:14]  ⁴ tn The expression כִּמְעַט (kim’at) is “like a little.” It means “almost,” and is used of unrealized action (BDB 590 s.v. 2). Cf. NCV “I came close to”; NLT “I have come to the brink of.”

[5:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “I was in all evil” (cf. KJV, ASV).

[5:14]  ⁶ tn The text uses the two words “congregation and assembly” to form a hendiadys, meaning the entire assembly.

[21:16]  ⁷ tn The text uses “man” as the subject and the active participle תּוֹעֶה (to’eh) as the predicate. The image of “wandering off the path” signifies leaving a life of knowledge, prudence, and discipline.

[21:16]  ⁸ tn Or “prudence”; KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV “understanding”; NLT “common sense.”

[21:16]  ⁹ tn Heb “will remain” or “will rest.” The Hebrew word נוּחַ (nuakh) does not here carry any of the connotations of comforting repose in death that the righteous enjoy; it simply means “to remain; to reside; to dwell.” The choice of this verb might have an ironic twist to it, reminding the wicked what might have been.

[21:16]  ¹⁰ sn The departed are the Shades (the Rephaim). The literal expression “will rest among the Shades” means “will be numbered among the dead.” So once again physical death is presented as the punishment for folly.