Proverbs 8:27

8:27 When he established the heavens, I was there;

when he marked out the horizon ¹  over the face of the deep,

Proverbs 24:31

24:31 I saw ²  that thorns had grown up all over it,

the ground ³  was covered with weeds,

and its stone wall was broken down.

Proverbs 30:32

30:32 If you have done foolishly by exalting yourself ⁴ 

or if you have planned evil,

put ⁵  your hand over your mouth!

Proverbs 31:27

31:27 She watches over ⁶  the ways of her household,

and does not eat the bread of idleness. ⁷ 

[8:27]  ¹ sn The infinitive construct בְּחוּקוֹ (bÿkhuqo, “to cut; to engrave; to mark”) and the noun חוּג (khug, “horizon; circle”) form a paronomasia in the line.

[24:31]  ² tn The Hebrew term וְהִנֵּה (vÿhinneh, traditionally “and, lo” [KJV, ASV]) is a deictic particle that calls attention to what comes next. “And look” is too abrupt here; “I saw” calls attention to the field that was noticed.

[24:31]  ³ tn Heb “its face” (so KJV, ASV).

[30:32]  ³ tn The construction has the בְּ (bet) preposition with the Hitpael infinitive construct, forming a temporal clause. This clause explains the way in which the person has acted foolishly.

[30:32]  ⁴ tn Heb “hand to mouth.” This express means “put your hand to your mouth” (e.g., Job 40:4, 5); cf. NIV “clap your hand over.”

[31:27]  ⁴ tn The first word of the eighteenth line begins with צ (tsade), the eighteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

[31:27]  ⁵ sn The expression bread of idleness refers to food that is gained through idleness, perhaps given or provided for her. In the description of the passage one could conclude that this woman did not have to do everything she did; and this line affirms that even though she is well off, she will eat the bread of her industrious activity.