1:3

Notice the parallel lines. Verse 1:3a gives another purpose for the proverbs. Verse 1:3b specifies what the first line means. In some languages, it may be more natural to start 1:3a with a separate sentence. For example:

Another purpose for these proverbs is for people to gain instruction…

1:3a

for receiving instruction in wise living: There is a textual issue here that relates to the phrase instruction in wise living :

(1) The Masoretic Text is literally “instruction of wise-conduct.” It gives an additional purpose of the proverbs. For example:

teach you how to live intelligently (Good News Translation)

(2) The Syriac version is literally “instruction and wise-conduct.” It gives two additional purposes of the proverbs. For example:

to be wise and self-controlled (New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with most versions.

receiving instruction in wise living: The Hebrew phrase musar haśkel, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as instruction in wise living, indicates primarily that instruction results in wise conduct. It also indicates that wise conduct is the content of the instruction. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

instruct you how to live sensibly
-or-
train people to follow a wise/sensible way of life

wise living: The Hebrew term haśkel refers here to good sense, practical insight, or wise conduct that results from intelligently evaluating a situation. A person who has haśkel is able to understand the different aspects of a problem and to think of a helpful solution.

1:3b

and in righteousness, justice, and equity: The three Hebrew nouns that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in righteousness, justice, and equity specify what is meant by wise conduct or prudence. These three terms share similar meanings. Together they cover the whole range of honest, righteous, just, and fair behavior, both between individuals and in legal decisions. Here are the senses of meaning for each word that occur most frequently in the Hebrew lexicons, commentaries, and English versions.

righteousness: (Hebrew: ṣedeq) righteousness; right conduct according to God’s law.

justice: (Hebrew: mišpaṭ) justice; just, right, and proper decisions, especially legal decisions.

equity: (Hebrew: mešarim) honesty, straightforwardness in speech or conduct; conduct that is fair, equitable.

Some languages may have one word that covers the meanings of all three Hebrew words. Other languages may need two or more words or expressions to cover the same range of meaning.

© 2012, 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.