13:9

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

9a
The light of the righteous shines brightly,

9b but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

13:9a–b

The light of the righteous…the lamp of the wicked: No contrast is intended between the words translated here as light and lamp. Both words refer figuratively to life, and both lines are implied comparisons. The life of a righteous person is like a shining light, because a shining light symbolizes prosperity and well-being. The life of a wicked person is like a light that is extinguished, because a light that stops shining symbolizes hardship, ruin, and death.

If the meaning of these metaphors are not clear in your language, some other ways to translate them are:

• Change the metaphors to similes. For example:

The righteous are like a light shining brightly; the wicked are like a lamp flickering out. (Good News Translation)

• Change the metaphors to similes and make the topic explicit. For example:

⌊The life of⌋ a righteous person is like a bright light, but ⌊the life of⌋ a wicked person is like an extinguished light.

• Omit one or both of the figures of speech but use related expressions that keep the ideas of brightness and darkness. For example:

Good people can look forward to a bright future, but the future of the wicked is like a flame going out. (New Century Version)

13:9a

The light of the righteous shines brightly: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as shines brightly usually means “rejoices.” Many English versions translate it that way. In this context, it contrasts with a lamp being “extinguished” in 13:9b. So it is probably a figure of speech that refers to a light that shines/burns brightly.

13:9b

but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished: The phrase is extinguished means “is put out.” In English, this verb is passive. It implies that someone extinguishes the lamp, but the one who does it is not specified. In some languages, it may be more natural to translate this clause without using a passive verb. For example:

but the future of the wicked is like a flame going out (New Century Version)

It is better to use this kind of option than to emphasize the one who extinguishes the lamp. The main contrast in this proverb is between one light that shines brightly and another light that stops shining.

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