5:23

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning. In both lines the underlined parts express the result of the young man’s sin.

23a
He dies for lack of discipline,

23b
led astray by his own great folly.

5:23a–b

He dies for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly: Since going astray logically precedes dying, the relationship between the parallel parts of this verse may be expressed as follows: The wicked person’s great folly and lack of discipline cause him to be led astray, and he dies.

5:23a

lack of discipline: The usual meaning of discipline (Hebrew: musar) is moral instruction or training. Here, the word probably refers to the result of such training—self-control. So in this context, the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as lack of discipline refers to the absence of self-control. For example:

They die because they have no self-control (Good News Translation)
-or-
He will die because he does not control himself (New Century Version)

5:23b

led astray by his own great folly: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as led astray was translated as “captivated” in 5:19–20. Here in 5:23b, it has the sense of going astray from the safe or right path. Another way to translate this phrase is:

Because he is very foolish, he will wander off the right path and get lost.

folly: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as folly means moral foolishness. It refers to the inability or refusal to do what is right or to avoid what is wrong. It is not mental stupidity.

General Comment on 5:23a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder these two lines. For example:

23b His extreme ⌊moral⌋ foolishness will cause him to stray ⌊from the right path⌋ .

23a His absence of self-control will result in his death.

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. See the Display for 5:23a–b (combined/reordered).

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