Paragraph 24:10 Saying 24
This saying indicates that a person who gives up when there is trouble has very little strength. It is an implied encouragement to show strength in times of trouble. It is also an implied admonition to not show weakness. The Contemporary English Version translates this admonition explicitly. It has:
Don’t give up and be helpless in times of trouble.
Most versions leave the encouragement/admonition implied.
24:10
If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!: In Hebrew, this verse is literally “You have shown yourself weak in a day of trouble. Your strength is narrow.” Almost all English versions translate these statements as an “if” clause followed by a conclusion.
If you faint in the day of distress: This clause refers to a person who becomes discouraged and fails to act appropriately in a crisis. Instead of showing determination and courage to face the hardship or trouble, he shows weakness. Some other ways to translate this clause are:
If you have shown yourself weak at a time of crisis (Revised English Bible)
-or-
If you give up when trouble comes (New Century Version)
-or-
If you fail under pressure (New Living Translation (2004))
how small is your strength: This clause refers to mental and moral strength, not only physical strength. It indicates that the person’s strength is limited or inadequate. The Berean Standard Bible translates this clause as an exclamation to emphasize the person’s lack of strength. Some other ways to translate this clause are:
your strength is not worth much (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
it shows that you are weak (New Century Version)
-or-
you are weak indeed (Good News Translation)
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