Mazmur 37:24

37:24 Even if ¹  he trips, he will not fall headlong, ² 

for the Lord holds ³  his hand.

Amsal 24:16

24:16 Although ⁴  a righteous person may fall seven times, he gets up again,

but the wicked will be brought down ⁵  by calamity.

[37:24]  ¹ tn Other translation options for כִּי in this context are “when” (so NASB) or “though” (so NEB, NIV, NRSV).

[37:24]  ² tn Heb “be hurled down.”

[37:24]  ³ tn The active participle indicates this is characteristically true. See v. 17.

[24:16]  ⁴ tn The clause beginning with כִּי (ki) could be interpreted as causal or conditional; but in view of the significance of the next clause it seems better to take it as a concessive clause (“although”). Its verb then receives a modal nuance of possibility. The apodosis is then “and he rises up,” which could be a participle or a perfect tense; although he may fall, he gets up (or, will get up).

[24:16]  sn The righteous may suffer adversity or misfortune any number of times – seven times here – but they will “rise” for virtue triumphs over evil in the end (R. N. Whybray, Proverbs [CBC], 140).

[24:16]  ⁵ tn The verb could be translated with an English present tense (“are brought down,” so NIV) to express what happens to the wicked in this life; but since the saying warns against being like the wicked, their destruction is more likely directed to the future.