PastorTrusting wisdom

Proverbs 3 — Trust, wisdom, and conduct — Hebrew and Greek compared

Saints Translation — Proverbs 1–31 [V1]

Same 1 Similar 10 Different 14 Divergent 7 Disparate 5

Disparate in this chapter: H 3:6, H 3:12, H 3:18, H 3:30, H 3:32

Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.

Proverbs 3 — Trust, wisdom, and conduct

3:1–3:12 — Trust, generosity, and correction

Verse H 3:1 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:1

My son, do not forget my instruction;

let your heart keep my commandments,

Greek–English (G)

G 3:1

Son, do not forget my ordinances;

let your heart keep my words,

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: Greek ordinances/words differs from Hebrew instruction/commandments and lacks my before son.

Verse H 3:2 Same

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:2

for they will add length of days, years of life, and peace to you.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:2

for they will add length of life, years of living, and peace to you.

Comparison and reception

Same. Text: The threefold promise of length, life, and peace corresponds.

Verse H 3:3 Divergent

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:3

Do not let loyal love and faithfulness leave you. Bind them around your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:3

Do not let acts of mercy and faithfulness fail you. Fasten them around your neck, and you will find favor.

Comparison and reception

Divergent. Text: Greek lacks writing on the heart's tablet and places finding favor here, where Hebrew has it in verse4. Greek plural acts of mercy/faithfulness are not flattened into a claim about a different legal practice.

Verse H 3:4 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:4

Then find favor and good understanding in the eyes of God and humanity.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:4

And take thought for good things before the Lord and people.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: Greek command to plan good things differs from Hebrew finding favor/good understanding. Good repute is a contextual alternative for the Hebrew understanding expression. Greek Lord differs from God.

Verse H 3:5 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:5

Trust YHWH with all your heart;

do not lean on your own understanding.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:5

Trust God with your whole heart;

do not exalt yourself on the strength of your wisdom.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: Greek not exalting yourself differs from Hebrew not leaning on your understanding; Greek God differs from YHWH.

Verse H 3:6 Disparate

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:6

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:6

In all your ways acknowledge her, so that she may cut your ways straight, and your foot will certainly not stumble.

Comparison and reception

Disparate. Text: Greek feminine her refers grammatically to wisdom, unlike Hebrew masculine Him; it adds the non-stumbling foot. The feminine reference and the added result are preserved without replacing wisdom with God in this clause.

Verse H 3:7 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:7

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

fear YHWH and turn away from evil.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:7

Do not be prudent in your own estimation;

fear God and turn away from every evil.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: The warning against self-satisfied wisdom corresponds; Greek explicitly says every evil and God.

Verse H 3:8 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:8

It will be healing to your navel and refreshment to your bones.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:8

Then there will be healing for your body and care for your bones.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: Greek body differs from Hebrew navel, which may represent the body more broadly but is not silently replaced. Greek care differs from Hebrew watering/refreshment.

Verse H 3:9 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:9

Honor YHWH from your wealth and from the first of all your produce,

Greek–English (G)

G 3:9

Honor the Lord from your righteous labors, and offer Him firstfruits from your fruits of righteousness,

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: Greek twice qualifies the wealth or produce by righteousness, unlike Hebrew general wealth and produce. The ethical qualification is retained without treating it as a different Hebrew word.

Verse H 3:10 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:10

and your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:10

so that your storerooms may be filled with an abundance of grain and your vats gush with wine.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: Greek specifies grain and wine, while Hebrew has plenty and new wine; the agricultural abundance corresponds.

Verse H 3:11 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:11

My son, do not reject YHWH's discipline or be disgusted by His correction,

Greek–English (G)

G 3:11

Son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline or lose heart when corrected by Him,

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: Greek discouragement differs from Hebrew disgust or weariness toward correction; the warning against rejecting discipline corresponds.

Biblical connection — New Testament quotation: Hebrews 12:5-6. Hebrews quotes Proverbs 3:11-12 to encourage believers enduring discipline. This reception concerns formation as God's children.

Verse H 3:12 Disparate

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:12

for YHWH corrects the one He loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:12

for the Lord disciplines the one He loves and scourges every son He receives.

Comparison and reception

Disparate. Text: Greek explicitly scourges every received son, whereas Hebrew compares correction with a father's favor toward his son. Neither the universal every nor the scourging is inserted into the Hebrew column.

3:13–3:20 — Wisdom, life, and creation

Verse H 3:13 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:13

Happy is the person who finds wisdom, the person who obtains understanding,

Greek–English (G)

G 3:13

Blessed is the person who found wisdom, the mortal who saw good sense,

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: Greek saw good sense differs from Hebrew obtains understanding; the happiness of wisdom's finder corresponds.

Verse H 3:14 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:14

for her gain is better than the gain of silver, and her yield better than gold.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:14

for trading in her is better than treasures of gold and silver.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: Greek gives one comparison with combined gold/silver treasures; Hebrew uses two commercial gain/yield clauses.

Verse H 3:15 Divergent

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:15

She is more precious than corals, and none of your desires can compare with her.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:15

She is more valuable than costly stones;

nothing evil will stand against her. She is readily known to all who approach her, and nothing precious is worthy of her.

Comparison and reception

Divergent. Text: Greek adds resistance to evil and accessibility to seekers, and has costly stones rather than Hebrew peninim, provisionally corals; rubies/pearls are alternative traditional identifications. The exact precious material is not secure.

Verse H 3:16 Divergent

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:16

Length of days is in her right hand;

in her left are wealth and honor.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:16

For length of life and years of living are in her right hand, and wealth and glory in her left.

Comparison and reception

Divergent. Text: Greek expands length of life with a further years-of-living phrase.

Verse 3:16a Divergent

Hebrew–English (H)

H —

[No corresponding passage in the selected Hebrew text.]

Greek–English (G)

G 3:16a

Righteousness proceeds from her mouth, and she carries law and mercy on her tongue.

Comparison and reception

Divergent. Text: Greek3:16a is an additional displayed source unit without a Hebrew counterpart. Its mouth/tongue description is translated once as a separate comparison row.

Verse H 3:17 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:17

Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:17

Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are in peace.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: Good/pleasant and the Greek in-peace construction differ slightly; the favorable paths correspond.

Verse H 3:18 Disparate

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:18

She is a tree of life to those who grasp her;

those who hold her fast are called happy.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:18

She is a tree of life to all who hold her fast, and secure for those who lean on her as on the Lord.

Comparison and reception

Disparate. Text: Greek compares reliance on Wisdom with reliance on the Lord and makes her secure, unlike Hebrew the holders' happiness. The explicit as-on-the-Lord comparison remains a comparison, not an inserted identification.

Verse H 3:19 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:19

YHWH founded the earth by wisdom;

He established the heavens by understanding.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:19

God founded the earth by wisdom and prepared the heavens by good sense.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: The creation claim corresponds, preserving the respective divine names and understanding vocabulary.

Reception — Theological interpretation: Irenaeus cites creation through Wisdom and associates Wisdom with the Spirit in this argument. St. Irenaeus of Lyons · Against Heresies IV.20.3.

Verse H 3:20 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:20

By His knowledge the deeps were split open, and the clouds drip dew.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:20

By perception the abysses were split open, and clouds flowed with dew.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: Greek lacks the explicit His and renders the two events with past forms; the creation and dew images correspond.

3:21–3:35 — Secure paths and duties to neighbors

Verse H 3:21 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:21

My son, do not let them slip from your eyes;

keep sound wisdom and discretion,

Greek–English (G)

G 3:21

Son, do not drift away;

keep my counsel and thought,

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: Greek warns the pupil against drifting away and supplies my counsel/thought; Hebrew warns against losing them from sight and names sound wisdom/discretion.

Verse H 3:22 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:22

and they will be life to your soul and grace for your neck.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:22

so that your soul may live and grace be around your neck.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: Greek casts life as a purpose/result clause; the life and neck adornment correspond.

Verse 3:22a Divergent

Hebrew–English (H)

H —

[No corresponding passage in the selected Hebrew text.]

Greek–English (G)

G 3:22a

There will be healing for your flesh and care for your bones,

Comparison and reception

Divergent. Text: Greek3:22a is an additional displayed unit, repeating a body-and-bones benefit without a Hebrew counterpart here. It is not moved into verse8 or omitted as redundant.

Verse H 3:23 Divergent

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:23

Then you will walk your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:23

so that you may walk all your ways confidently in peace, and your foot will certainly not stumble.

Comparison and reception

Divergent. Text: Greek adds all and in peace while maintaining the shared secure walk and unstumbling foot.

Verse H 3:24 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:24

When you lie down, you will not be afraid;

you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:24

For if you sit, you will be fearless, and if you sleep, you will sleep pleasantly.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: Greek sitting differs from Hebrew lying down in the first clause; both then promise pleasant sleep.

Verse H 3:25 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:25

Do not fear sudden terror or the devastation of the wicked when it comes,

Greek–English (G)

G 3:25

You will not fear an approaching fright or the oncoming assaults of the ungodly,

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: Greek future assurance and assaults differ from Hebrew command and devastation. Hebrew of-the-wicked may describe their attack or their ruin; the relation is left open.

Verse H 3:26 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:26

for YHWH will be your confidence and guard your foot from capture.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:26

for the Lord will be upon all your ways and support your foot so that you are not shaken.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: Greek the Lord on all ways and support against shaking differ from Hebrew confidence and protection from capture. Hebrew bekhislekha also permits a side/flank-related interpretation; confidence is provisional in context.

Verse H 3:27 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:27

Do not withhold good from those to whom it belongs when your hand has the power to do it.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:27

Do not refrain from doing good to someone in need whenever your hand has the means to help.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: Greek explicitly names the needy person, while Hebrew names the good's rightful recipients. Both condition the duty on practical ability.

Verse H 3:28 Divergent

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:28

Do not say to your neighbor, Go and return;

tomorrow I will give, when you have it with you.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:28

Do not say, Go away and come back;

tomorrow I will give, when you are able to do good, for you do not know what the coming day will bring forth.

Comparison and reception

Divergent. Text: Greek adds uncertainty about tomorrow and lacks the explicit neighbor designation. Its duplicated return expression is idiomatically rendered go away and come back.

Verse H 3:29 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:29

Do not plan evil against your neighbor when he lives securely beside you.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:29

Do not devise evils against your friend who lives nearby and trusts in you.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: Greek explicitly describes trust in you and friendship; Hebrew describes the neighbor's secure dwelling.

Verse H 3:30 Disparate

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:30

Do not quarrel with anyone without cause, if he has done you no harm.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:30

Do not seek enmity with anyone in vain, lest he do you some harm.

Comparison and reception

Disparate. Text: Greek warns of a prospective harmful consequence, unlike Hebrew the absence of an already committed wrong. The different temporal and causal relation is retained.

Verse H 3:31 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:31

Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways,

Greek–English (G)

G 3:31

Do not acquire the reproaches of evil men or imitate their ways,

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: Greek acquiring evil men's reproaches differs from Hebrew envying a violent individual; Greek imitates where Hebrew chooses.

Verse H 3:32 Disparate

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:32

for the devious person is an abomination to YHWH, but His intimate counsel is with the upright.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:32

for every lawless person is unclean before the Lord, and he does not sit in council among the righteous.

Comparison and reception

Disparate. Text: Greek continues with the lawless person's exclusion from the righteous, whereas Hebrew describes YHWH's intimate counsel with the upright. The Greek subject is taken as the lawless person, not silently changed to the Lord.

Verse H 3:33 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:33

YHWH's curse is in the wicked person's house, but He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:33

God's curse is in the houses of the ungodly, but the dwellings of the righteous are blessed.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: Greek plural houses and passive blessing differ from Hebrew singular house and active divine blessing.

Verse H 3:34 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:34

He scoffs at scoffers, but gives grace to the humble.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:34

The Lord opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: Greek Lord opposing pride differs from Hebrew His answering scoffers with scorn; both give favor to the humble. The Hebrew display at humble/afflicted requires read/written checking before a precise textual note is claimed.

Verse H 3:35 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 3:35

The wise will inherit honor, but fools raise up disgrace.

Greek–English (G)

G 3:35

The wise will inherit glory, but the ungodly raised up dishonor.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: Greek ungodly/past differs from Hebrew fools and its difficult singular raising form after a plural subject. Raise up disgrace is a close provisional construal; being promoted to disgrace is an alternative requiring review.