Proverbs 8:11

8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies,

and desirable things cannot be compared ¹  to her.

Proverbs 10:28

10:28 The hope ²  of the righteous is joy,

but the expectation of the wicked will remain unfulfilled. ³ 

Proverbs 11:7

11:7 When a wicked person dies, his expectation perishes, ⁴ 

and the hope of his strength ⁵  perishes. ⁶ 

Proverbs 28:27

28:27 The one who gives to the poor will not lack, ⁷ 

but whoever shuts his eyes to them ⁸  will receive ⁹  many curses. ¹⁰ 

[8:11]  ¹ tn The verb יִשְׁווּ (yishvu, from שָׁוָה, shavah) can be rendered “are not comparable” or in a potential nuance “cannot be compared” with her.

[10:28]  ² sn This proverb contrasts the hopes of the righteous and the wicked. The righteous will see their hopes fulfilled. The saying is concerned with God’s justice. The words תּוֹחֶלֶת (tokhelet, from יָחַל, yakhal) and תִּקְוַת (tiqvat, from קָוָה, qavah) are synonyms, both emphasizing eager expectations, longings, waiting in hope.

[10:28]  ³ tn Heb “will perish”; NAB “comes to nought.”

[11:7]  ³ tn The first colon features an imperfect tense depicting habitual action, while the second has a perfect tense verb depicting gnomic action.

[11:7]  ⁴ tc There are several suggested changes for this word אוֹנִים (’onim, “vigor” or “strength”). Rashi, a Jewish scholar who lived a.d. 1040-1105, suggests that the word refers to children, a meaning implied from Gen 49:3. This would mean that even his children would not benefit from his wickedness. Tg. Prov 11:7 rendered it “who practice crookedness,” deriving it from the first root which means “wickedness.”

[11:7]  ⁵ tc The LXX adds an antithesis to this: “When the righteous dies, hope does not perish.” The LXX translators wanted to see the hope of the righteous fulfilled in the world to come.

[28:27]  ⁴ sn The generous individual will be rewarded. He will not lack nor miss what he has given away to the poor.

[28:27]  ⁵ tn Heb “hides his eyes”; “to them” is supplied in the translation to indicate the link with the poor in the preceding line. Hiding or closing the eyes is a metonymy of cause or of adjunct, indicating a decision not to look on and thereby help the poor. It could also be taken as an implied comparison, i.e., not helping the poor is like closing the eyes to them.

[28:27]  ⁶ tn The term “receives” is not in the Hebrew text but is implied, and is supplied in the translation.

[28:27]  ⁷ sn The text does not specify the nature or the source of the curses. It is natural to think that they would be given by the poor who are being mistreated and ignored. Far from being praised for their contributions to society, selfish, stingy people will be reviled for their heartless indifference.