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23 A wicked person receives a bribe secretly[a]
to pervert[b] the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is directly in front of[c] the discerning person,
but the eyes of a fool run[d] to the ends of the earth.[e]
25 A foolish child is a grief[f] to his father,
and bitterness to the mother who bore him.[g]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:23 sn The fact that the “gift” is given secretly (Heb “from the bosom” [מֵחֵיק, mekheq]; so NASB) indicates that it was not proper. Cf. NRSV “a concealed bribe”; TEV, CEV, NLT “secret bribes.”
  2. Proverbs 17:23 tn The form לְהַטּוֹת (lehattot) is the Hiphil infinitive construct of נָטָה (natah), meaning “to thrust away,” i.e., to “pervert.” This purpose clause clarifies that the receiving of the “gift” is for evil intent.
  3. Proverbs 17:24 tn The verse begins with אֶת־פְּנֵי מֵבִין (ʾet pene mevin), “before the discerning” or “the face of the discerning.” The particle אֶת here is simply drawing emphasis to the predicate (IBHS 182-83 §10.3.2b). Cf. NIV “A discerning man keeps wisdom in view.”
  4. Proverbs 17:24 tn The term “run” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied for the sake of clarification.
  5. Proverbs 17:24 sn To say that “the eyes of the fool run to the ends of the earth” means that he has no power to concentrate and cannot focus his attention on anything. The language is hyperbolic. Cf. NCV “the mind of a fool wanders everywhere.”
  6. Proverbs 17:25 sn The Hebrew noun means “vexation, anger, grief.”
  7. Proverbs 17:25 tn Heb “to the one who bore him.” Because the participle is feminine singular in Hebrew, this has been translated as “the mother who bore him.”sn The proverb is similar to v. 21, 10:1, and 15:20.

23 The wicked accept bribes(A) in secret
    to pervert the course of justice.(B)

24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
    but a fool’s eyes(C) wander to the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
    and bitterness to the mother who bore him.(D)

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