Amsal 13:13

13:13 The one who despises instruction ¹  will pay the penalty, ² 

but whoever esteems instruction ³  will ⁴  be rewarded. ⁵ 

Amsal 27:12

27:12 A shrewd person sees danger and hides himself,

but the naive keep right on going ⁶  and suffer for it.

[13:13]  ¹ tn Heb “the word.” The term “word” means teaching in general; its parallel “command” indicates that it is the more forceful instruction that is meant. Both of these terms are used for scripture.

[13:13]  ² tc The MT reads יֵחָבֶל (yekhavel, “he will pay [for it]”; cf. NAB, NIV) but the BHS editors suggest revocalizing the text to יְחֻבָּל (yÿkhubal, “he will be broken [for it]”; cf. NRSV “bring destruction on themselves”).

[13:13]  tn Heb “will be pledged to it.” The Niphal of I חָבַל (khaval) “to pledge” means “to be under pledge to pay the penalty” (BDB 286 s.v. Niph). Whoever despises teaching will be treated as a debtor – he will pay for it if he offends against the law.

[13:13]  ³ tn Heb “fears a commandment”; NIV “respects a command.”

[13:13]  ⁴ tn Heb “he” or “that one” [will be rewarded].

[13:13]  ⁵ tc The LXX adds: “A crafty son will have no good thing, but the affairs of a wise servant will be prosperous; and his path will be directed rightly.”

[27:12]  ⁶ tn Heb “go on”; the word “right” is supplied in the translation to clarify the meaning: The naive person, oblivious to impending danger, meets it head on.