Footwork

Proverbs 5:5 (KJV) Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

When I read from different translations, I often wonder how accurate they are as opposed to how creative.  The Septuagint gives me another place to ask that question.  Here is how the Seventy put this verse,

Proverbs 5:5 (BES) For the feet of folly lead those who deal with her down to the grave with death; and her steps are not established.

I like that phrase “feet of folly”.  What a great way of expressing how we tend to wander off by not paying attention or by deliberate choices.

Do we recognize folly when we approach it?  Does it blind side us?  Are we without excuse?  I’m afraid that the answer to that is not something we want to know.  We are very good at rationalizing our behaviors in our choices.  The last thing we want to admit is that we were the reason things went wrong.  We always want to blame other people.

The only way to avoid that difficulty, or tragedy, is to know what is right and wrong based on an unimpeachable source.  For us that source would be God’s word. It won’t be the words of the Pastor or the advice of a friend.  It will be God‘s word.

So?  Are you reading?  Are you paying attention?  God has provided the resources we need, from the written word to the active filling of the Holy Spirit.

Just a Taste

(Psa 34:8 KJV)  O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

(Proverbs 4 also read)

I worship in the morning to start my day by coming into contact with Almighty God.  He meets me.  He is faithful.  I, of course, go through different emotional states and mental conditions.  My attitude is not always perfect.  That should be obvious to all of us.

I also am aware, or made aware, that God is infinitely beyond me.  My hope is based on the revelation of Jesus, and that through Him we can know God.  Still, as wonderful as that is, as a mortal human it is impossible for me to even begin to approach the infinite nature of God.

Then David suggests that we don’t run off into the sunset crying and weeping over this reality.  What we are to do is “taste” (2398) and “see” (7200) the nature of God.

So?  When they tell you that you can only have one piece of cake, do you turn in disgust and walk away?  No.  You enjoy that piece of cake.  You understand without it being said that if there is any left tomorrow, you may get another piece.  And of course, in eternity, you may get the whole thing. 

Pronouns Strike Again

Proverbs 3:6 (KJV) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

In reading the Septuagint I almost skipped over this part, but when I looked closely there was a difference.  Notice how this verse is translated,

Proverbs 3:6 (BES) In all thy ways acquaint thyself with her, that she may rightly direct thy paths.

Do you notice immediately the pronouns of “her” and “she”?  It is a definite difference in the translation.  I don’t know that it is part of the actual text in Hebrew.  I know that when I looked at the Hebrew, I couldn’t find any gender markings, but if you look back at the verses before it is definitely talking about God.  My first thought was that the translator may assume it was talking about wisdom, which is feminine.  But no, it is talking about God.  The issue is that in Greek the word for “ways” is a feminine noun and grammatically the pronoun agrees with the noun.  So legalistically “her” is correct in Greek but in translation it gives a devious understanding.

So keep in mind that when people talk about how the Bible sometimes refer to God as “she”, they may have been reading the Septuagint, or letting their imagination go with them like this translator.

So?  You can never stop thinking.  It just doesn’t work. 

An Extra Word

Proverbs 2:11 (KJV) Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

As I read through Proverbs in the Septuagint, I see numerous differences.  I don’t know enough about Greek to tell if it’s actual differences in the text or just the opinion of the translator, so I’m not going to make any great theological conclusions.  I did notice in this verse though that the Septuagint seems to add an extra word which I feel gives insight.

Proverbs 2:11 (BES) good counsel shall guard thee, and holy understanding shall keep thee;

Notice the adjective added to make it “holy understanding”, instead of just “understanding”. Again my tools are limited, but I don’t see that in the Hebrew text itself.

However, I find it useful to include this word.  Our understanding should be based on God’s understanding, and not just man’s.  I noticed that the Legacy Standard Bible uses discernment instead of understanding.  That makes me wonder if they were consulting with the Septuagint.

So?  Although it is not a specific scriptural understanding here, it is a good insight.  Our understanding, our grasp of things, our interpretations, should be based on God’s view of things, on holy understand. 

New Translation

(Pro 1:7 KJV)  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Today I begin reading a new translation for the month.  It is called Brenton’s English Septuagint.  One of the things I noticed, as I was studying in another spot, was that Jesus seem to read from the Septuagint rather than the Hebrew text.  It will be interesting to see if that is consistent here.

In this first verse, you see a definite difference between the two.  Here is the one from the Septuagint,

Proverbs 1:7 (BES) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and there is good understanding to all that practise it: and piety toward God is the beginning of discernment; but the ungodly will set at nought wisdom and instruction.

Noticed that the first part is close, but the second part seems to be either an editorial comment or work a scribe trying to write an interpretation.  This is one of the reasons why we don’t tend to lean heavily on this Greek text.

So?  Read, but read with discernment.  Go ahead and compare other translations, but always do so with the idea of what you know about the entire scripture not just one isolated verse.