Amsal 19:8

19:8 The one who acquires wisdom ¹  loves himself; ² 

the one who preserves understanding will prosper. ³ 

Amsal 19:20

19:20 Listen to advice ⁴  and receive discipline,

that ⁵  you may become wise ⁶  by the end of your life. ⁷ 

[19:8]  ¹ tn Heb “heart.” Most English versions translate as “wisdom,” but cf. NAB “intelligence.” This refers to a mind that works (e.g., Prov 7:7; 9:4).

[19:8]  ² tn Heb “his own soul.” The expression “loves his soul” means that he is paying attention to his needs or taking care of his life (cf. NAB “is his own best friend”). This expression works with its parallel to provide the whole idea: “loving the soul” is the metonymy of the cause for prospering, and “prospering” is the metonymy of the effect (of loving).

[19:8]  ³ tn Heb “finds good” (similar KJV, NASB); NCV “will succeed.” The MT reads לִמְצֹא (limtso’), a Qal infinitive construct. The LXX (as well as the other major early versions) renders it as a future, which reflects a Vorlage of יִמְצָא (yimtsa’). The infinitive is used here in a modal sense, meaning “is destined to” or “is certain of” finding good in life.

[19:20]  ⁴ sn The advice refers in all probability to the teachings of the sages that will make one wise.

[19:20]  ⁵ tn The proverb is one continuous thought, but the second half of the verse provides the purpose for the imperatives of the first half.

[19:20]  ⁶ tn The imperfect tense has the nuance of a final imperfect in a purpose clause, and so is translated “that you may become wise” (cf. NAB, NRSV).

[19:20]  ⁷ tn Heb “become wise in your latter end” (cf. KJV, ASV) which could obviously be misunderstood.