11:6
Most of the words and ideas in this verse are used in 11:3–5. Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:
6a The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
6b but the faithless are trapped by their own desires.
11:6a
The righteousness of the upright: This phrase is identical to 11:5a, except that the word upright (see 11:3a) is used instead of “blameless.”
delivers them: This verse does not specify what the upright are delivered/rescued from. You should leave this implied if possible. In some languages, it may be helpful to make one or more of the following translation adjustments:
• Your language may require you to specify what the upright are delivered from. If that is true, the implicit information is probably “from death,” as in 10:2b and 11:4b.
• It may not be natural to say that personified “righteousness” delivers someone. Some other ways to translate the personification are:
An upright person will be rescued ⌊from death⌋ because he does what is right.
-or-
If a person is upright and righteous, he will be delivered ⌊from death⌋ .
• If it is not natural to use a passive verb, use an active verb and supply “the LORD” as the subject. For example:
An honest person does what is right, so ⌊the LORD⌋ will rescue him ⌊from dying⌋ .
11:6b
but the faithless are trapped by their own desires: For the word faithless, see the note on 11:3b.
trapped: In Hebrew, this word often refers to a net, trap, or snare that is used to catch animals. Here it is used as part of a metaphor. In this metaphor, “the faithless” are compared to animals.
The similarity is that both are trapped. Animals are literally caught in a trap. Similarly, treacherous or untrustworthy people are figuratively caught by their own desires.
This probably means that their own desires lead them to commit crimes or to do other sinful things. These actions result in their own destruction. So the meaning of this line is very similar to that of 11:3b and 11:5b.
In some languages, a literal translation of this metaphor may be difficult to understand. Some other ways to translate it are:
• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
but people who can’t be trusted, ⌊it is as if⌋ they will be caught in a snare/trap due to what they desire
• Change the metaphor to a simile. Make explicit the similarity between an unfaithful person and a trapped animal. For example:
but the desires of a treacherous person will result in him being ⌊destroyed, just like an animal⌋ caught in a trap
their own desires: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as their own desires refers specifically to any kind of ⌊evil⌋ desires, cravings, or longings. For example:
the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires (New International Version)
Some versions specify “greed.” For example:
trapped by their own greed (Good News Translation)
However, it may be better to use a more general term. The same word last occurred in 10:3b, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “craving.”
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