2:21

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

21a For the upright will inhabit the land,

21b and the blameless will remain in it ;

2:21a–b

For: This word introduces a concluding summary for the whole chapter. But this summary in 2:21–22 does not give the reason for 2:20, so some English versions leave the connection implied. For example:

Those who are honest will live in the land (New Century Version)

Other ways to introduce this concluding summary are:

Surely the upright will inhabit the land
-or-
If you are upright, you will live in the land

the upright…the blameless: The terms the upright and the blameless (see the note on 2:7) do not refer to two different kinds of people. Both terms refer to people who are righteous. In some languages, it may be more natural to indicate this relationship by combining and/or reordering these terms. For example:

If you are honest and innocent, you will keep your land. (Contemporary English Version)

These terms are also parallel to “good” and “righteous” in 2:20. You should translate in such a way that these two sets of parallel terms are understood to refer to the same group of people. See 2:21a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display for one way to do this.

inhabit the land…remain in it: A number of scholars feel that the land probably refers to the land of Canaan, which the LORD gave to the descendants of Israel. This may be why the Good News Translation translates this phrase as:

this land of ours (Good News Translation)

However, other scholars feel that in Proverbs, this phrase has the more general meaning “on earth” or “in the world.” The contrast in these verses is between life and death, not life in Canaan as opposed to life in exile. So it is recommended that you translate in a way that allows either meaning. You should not make Canaan or Israel explicit in your translation.

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