Paragraph 23:17–18 Saying 14
In the first verse of this saying, the author gives his “son” (see 23:15) two contrasting commands. In the last verse, he promises the young man that following these commands will have good results.
23:17
The first line of this verse (17a) is a negative command. The second line (17b) is a contrasting positive command. Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:
17a Do not let your heart envy sinners,
17b but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
In Hebrew, there is no verb in 23:17b. Verses in Proverbs frequently omit the verb in the second line, because it is implied from the first line (ellipsis). Here the Berean Standard Bible has supplied the verb “continue in” in 23:17b. The New International Version supplies the verb “be zealous for.” To “continue in” (the fear of the LORD) and “be zealous for” are both positive equivalents to the verb “envy” in 23:17a.
23:17a
Do not let your heart envy sinners: As in 23:15, the word heart refers to the person himself, especially to his thoughts and emotions. The word sinners refers to habitual sinners or wrongdoers, not people who occasionally sin. This command implies that the young man should not strongly desire the possessions and pleasures that sinners often enjoy. Some other ways to translate this command are:
Do not envy sinners in your heart. (God’s Word)
-or-
Don’t be envious of sinful people (Good News Translation)
The word “sinner(s)” also occurs in 1:10 and 13:21.
23:17b
but: In Hebrew, this verse part is introduced by two words that indicate a strong contrast with the preceding negative command. Some ways to indicate this strong contrast are:
but rather be zealous in fearing the Lord all the time (NET Bible)
-or-
Instead, continue to fear the Lord (God’s Word)
always continue in the fear of the LORD: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “in the fear of the LORD all the day.” The New International Version supplied a verb with a good meaning (“be zealous for”) rather than a verb with a bad meaning (“envy”). The same Hebrew word can have either meaning. The good meaning is probably correct in this context.
Although the verb “envy” occurs in 23:17a, this bad meaning does not fit with the fear of the LORD here in 23:17b. So most English versions supply a verb that has a good meaning, as the Berean Standard Bible and New International Version have done. This command then indicates that the young man should strongly desire to respect and obey the LORD.
Some other ways to translate this command are:
but always continue to fear the Lord (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
but always respect the Lord (New Century Version)
-or-
remain steady every day in the fear of Yahweh (New Jerusalem Bible)
Translate this line in a way that fits the fear of the LORD and also contrasts appropriately with the command not to envy.
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 implies that a person submits to the LORD and obeys him. For translation advice, see the notes on 1:7a and 10:27a.
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