10:17

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning.

17a
Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,

17b but he who ignores reproof goes astray.

10:17a

Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life: There is a textual difference here:

(1) Some scholars think that the original text was the phrase: “…is traveling to life.” This text implies that the person who heeds instruction is traveling ⌊on the way/path⌋ that leads to life. For example:

People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life (New Living Translation (2004))

(2) The Masoretic Text says: “…is a path to life.” This text implies that the person who heeds instruction is a path to life ⌊for others⌋ . In other words, he is an example for others to follow. He shows others the way/path that leads to life. For example:

He who follows discipline shows the way to life (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with most versions. The figure of a person traveling on a path occurs frequently in Proverbs. The idea of a person being a path does not.

instruction: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as instruction refers to moral instruction or training. The purpose of the instruction is to develop the student’s ability to follow God’s laws and avoid wrong behavior. It usually involves some form of correction by someone in authority. This correction may range from warning or rebuke to punishment. Here, in contrast to ignoring a rebuke in 10:17b, either the more general sense (“instruction”) or the more specific sense (“correction”) is appropriate. Some other ways to translate this line are:

Heed admonition and you are on the road to life (Revised English Bible)
-or-
People who listen when they are corrected will live (Good News Translation)

10:17b

but he who ignores reproof goes astray: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as goes astray usually means “to cause ⌊someone⌋ to go astray,” but no object is expressed. This has resulted in two different interpretations:

(1) The verb means to lead oneself astray, in other words, “to go astray.” For example:

whoever ignores correction goes astray (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) The verb means to lead others astray. For example:

but whoever ignores correction will lead others away from life (New Century Version)

The Display follows interpretation (1), because it provides a better parallel for the interpretation chosen for 10:17a. However, both interpretations are well supported. More versions follow the first view; more scholars support the second view.

reproof: This word usually indicates verbal correction or rebuke.

Another way to translate the clause “he who ignores reproof” is:

those who will not admit that they are wrong (Good News Translation)

goes astray: In some languages, it may be necessary to specify the place from which a person strays. If that is true in your language, another way to translate this line is:

but whoever refuses to listen when he is rebuked will stray ⌊from the right path⌋

© 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.