Proverbs 7:15

7:15 That is why I came out to meet you,

to look for you, ¹  and I found you!

Proverbs 17:24

17:24 Wisdom is directly in front of ²  the discerning person,

but the eyes of a fool run ³  to the ends of the earth. ⁴ 

Proverbs 29:26

29:26 Many people seek the face ⁵  of a ruler,

but it is from the Lord that one receives justice. ⁶ 

[7:15]  ¹ tn Heb “to look diligently for your face.”

[17:24]  ² tn The verse begins with אֶת־פְּנֵי מֵבִין (’et-pÿni mevin), “before the discerning” or “the face of the discerning.” The particle אֶת here is simply drawing emphasis to the predicate (IBHS 182-83 §10.3.2b). Cf. NIV “A discerning man keeps wisdom in view.”

[17:24]  ³ tn The term “run” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied for the sake of clarification.

[17:24]  ⁴ sn To say that “the eyes of the fool run to the ends of the earth” means that he has no power to concentrate and cannot focus his attention on anything. The language is hyperbolic. Cf. NCV “the mind of a fool wanders everywhere.”

[29:26]  ³ sn The idiom seek the face means to try to obtain favor from someone. According to the proverb, many people assume that true justice depends on the disposition of some earthly ruler.

[29:26]  ⁴ tn Heb “but from the Lord [is] justice of a man.” The last part uses the construct state followed by the genitive, which here shows the advantage – it is justice for the person. The implication of the matter is that people should seek the Lord’s favor (rather than a human ruler’s) if they want true justice.