19:23

In this verse, the second line adds to the thought of the first line. It gives more details about the kind of life that a person who fears the LORD will experience.

23a The fear of the LORD leads to life,

23b that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.

The overall meaning is that the life of a person who reveres the LORD will be characterized by contentment and safety.

19:23a

The fear of the LORD: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fear indicates both real fear and reverential awe. It also involves submitting to the LORD and obeying him. See the note on “fear of the LORD” in 10:27a–b for translation advice.

leads to life: This phrase is similar in meaning to the figurative phrase “is a fountain of life” in 13:14a. As in other proverbs, the word life implies a long and good life.

Some other ways to translate 19:23a are:

Obey the Lord and you will live a long life (Good News Translation)
-or-
Showing respect for the Lord brings true life (Contemporary English Version)

19:23b

that one may rest content: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “and satisfied, one will spend the night.” The subject is not specified, but it clearly refers to the person who fears the LORD in 19:23a. There are two ways to interpret the verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rest :

(1) The verb is used here as a figure of speech that represents “any time,” not only at night. It indicates that the person remains satisfied or content. For example:

he shall abide in contentment (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

(2) The verb refers literally to “staying overnight” or “spending the night,” as a traveler does on a journey. It indicates that the person spends the night satisfied or content. For example:

so that one may sleep satisfied (New American Standard Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). When the Hebrew verb is used literally of people spending the night, it refers to temporary overnight stays. It never refers to going to sleep at night in one’s own home. Most OT lexicons define the word figuratively in this context as “remains, abides.”

content: This word refers frequently in its other forms to being satisfied after a meal. (See 13:25a for one example). Here it probably refers to being content or satisfied in general, with all one’s basic needs met.

without visitation from harm: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “not visited by trouble.” It indicates that the person who fears the LORD will be safe or protected from trouble or harm.

Some other ways to translate 19:23b are:

and one who does so will live satisfied; he will not be afflicted by calamity (NET Bible)
-or-
content and safe from harm (Good News Translation)

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