Proverbs 22:29

NETBible

Do you see a person skilled 1  in his work? He will take his position before kings; he will not take his position 2  before obscure people. 3 

NIV ©

Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.

NASB ©

Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.

NLT ©

Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than ordinary people.

MSG ©

Observe people who are good at their work--skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don't take a back seat to anyone.

BBE ©

Have you seen a man who is expert in his business? he will take his place before kings; his place will not be among low persons.

NRSV ©

Do you see those who are skillful in their work? they will serve kings; they will not serve common people.

NKJV ©

Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men .

KJV
Seest
<02372> (8804)
thou a man
<0376>
diligent
<04106>
in his business
<04399>_?
he shall stand
<03320> (8691)
before
<06440>
kings
<04428>_;
he shall not stand
<03320> (8691)
before
<06440>
mean
<02823>
[men]. {mean...: Heb. obscure men}
NASB ©
Do you see
<2372>
a man
<376>
skilled
<4106>
in his work
<4399>
? He will stand
<3320>
before
<6440>
kings
<4428>
; He will not stand
<3320>
before
<6440>
obscure
<2823>
men
<2823>
.
LXXM
oratikon {A-ASM} andra
<435> 
N-ASM
kai
<2532> 
CONJ
oxun
<3691> 
A-ASM
en
<1722> 
PREP
toiv
<3588> 
T-DPM
ergoiv
<2041> 
N-DPN
autou
<846> 
D-GSM
basileusi
<935> 
N-DPM
dei
<1210> 
V-PAI-3S
parestanai
<3936> 
V-RAN
kai
<2532> 
CONJ
mh
<3165> 
ADV
parestanai
<3936> 
V-RAN
andrasi
<435> 
N-DPM
nwyroiv
<3576> 
A-DPM
NET [draft] ITL
Do you see
<02372>
a person
<0376>
skilled
<04106>
in his work
<04399>
? He will take his position
<03320>
before
<06440>
kings
<04428>
; he will not
<01077>
take his position
<03320>
before
<06440>
obscure
<02823>
people.
HEBREW
P
Myksx
<02823>
ynpl
<06440>
buyty
<03320>
lb
<01077>
buyty
<03320>
Myklm
<04428>
ynpl
<06440>
wtkalmb
<04399>
ryhm
<04106>
sya
<0376>
tyzx (22:29)
<02372>
NETBible

Do you see a person skilled 1  in his work? He will take his position before kings; he will not take his position 2  before obscure people. 3 

NET Notes

1 sn The word translated “skilled” is general enough to apply to any crafts; but it may refer to a scribe or an official (R. N. Whybray, Proverbs [CBC], 134).

2 tn The verb form used twice here is יִתְיַצֵּב (yityatsev), the Hitpael imperfect of יָצַב (yatsav), which means “to set or station oneself; to take one’s stand” in this stem. With the form לִפְנֵי (life) it means “to present oneself before” someone; so here it has the idea of serving as a courtier in the presence of a king.

3 sn The fifth saying affirms that true skill earns recognition and advancement (cf. Instruction of Amenemope, chap. 30, 27:16-17 [ANET 424]).