10:3
Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:
3a
The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry,
3b but He denies the craving of the wicked.
In Hebrew, the parallel parts form a chiasm. The parts in 10:3b occur in the opposite order from the parallel parts in 10:3a.
3a
not let-go-hungry the LORD soul of righteous
3b but craving of wicked-ones He denies.
You will need to decide whether or not it is appropriate in your language to use a chiasm here.
The overall contrast in this proverb is that the LORD supplies the need of righteous people for food, but he prevents wicked people from getting what they want.
Wicked people “crave” many things in addition to food. So an implied contrast is that the LORD also provides the other material needs that righteous people have.
10:3a
The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry: The phrase let…go hungry comes from a Hebrew word that refers to either hunger or famine. The whole clause indicates that the LORD will not allow righteous people to starve or undergo famine. For example:
The Lord will not allow a righteous person to starve (God’s Word)
Another way to translate this clause is to give the meaning in a positive way. For example:
The Lord satisfies the appetite of the righteous (NET Bible)
the righteous: In Hebrew, the phrase the righteous is literally “the nepeš (soul/life/appetite) of the righteous.” In this context, the word nepeš is a figure of speech that probably represents the righteous person himself. This is why almost all versions have simply “the righteous.”
The word righteous refers to a person who does what is right and just and keeps the law. Specifically, it refers to someone who obeys the law of the LORD. For example:
If you obey the Lord, you will not go hungry. (Contemporary English Version)
Some English versions use a more general phrase, “good people.” If possible, try to use a more specific phrase, because people can be “good” in many different ways.
10:3b
but He denies the craving of the wicked: In this context, the word denies means to prevent people from getting what they want. The word craving means “desires.” In this context, it probably refers to evil desires. Some other ways to translate this line are:
but he keeps evil people from getting what they want (New Century Version)
-or-
but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
if you are wicked, God won’t let you have what you want (Contemporary English Version)
the wicked: This word refers to people who are habitually evil in their character and conduct. Throughout Proverbs, the wicked contrast with the “righteous” (10:3a). People who are wicked rebel against the LORD and disobey his commands.
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