The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous endures.
Summary: This passage leads us into a meditation on the difference between this world and God’s kingdom. There is a choice to be made in each person’s life. Do we live for things or for God?
This must have been a challenging passage to translate because there is quite a variety between the various translations. For today’s blog, let’s use a translation called the “New Life Version.” They translate this passage this way:
“The sinful man wants what sinful men have, but the root of those who are right with God gives fruit.” (Proverbs 12:12, NLV)
And what do sinful men have? In Proverbs 1: 10-14 Solomon tells us:
“My son, if sinful men entice you,
do not give in to them.
If they say, “Come along with us;
let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,
let’s ambush some harmless soul;
let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
we will get all sorts of valuable things
and fill our houses with plunder;
cast lots with us;
we will all share the loot”—
Plunder and loot are the possessions of the sinful man. Material things are taken from “some harmless soul” at the cost of his “innocent blood.”
When we talk about what the righteous person wants, the NLV tells us “God gives fruit.” What kind of fruit? Galatians 5: 22-23 explains:
“But the fruit that comes from having the Holy Spirit in our lives is: love, joy, peace, not giving up, being kind, being good, having faith, being gentle, and being the boss over our own desires. The Law is not against these things.”
Those who put their hope in the things of this world are doomed. Those who put their hope in God have life.
Application: Make the right choice. 🙂
Food for Thought: Which translation speaks to you more clearly on this verse? Why?
Extra Spiritual version.
I’ve been looking for a copy of that version. Let me know where I can find one! 🙂
Esv
Which translation speaks to you more clearly on this verse? Why?
I think the New International Version and the New Life Version (both translate the same) speak to me more clearly because It highlights that the wicked desire “the stronghold of evildoers” instead of “wanting what sinful men have.” I think both are true and connect with each other, I just see more of the former happening today in the world.
You asked a dangerous question brother. I will pray for you 😊.
I don’t know much about the NLV. Is that like the NLT? Either way, a benefit from looking at many translations, if they are true translations, is that you get a wider understanding of the range of the Hebrew words and syntax. So I would say one might gather insight from both.
KJV because it was translated for king james the way he wanted it.
Side note. Ones to stay away from that I don’t believe that qualify as a translation and should be avoided
the new world translation NWT,
The mirror bible
The living bible
The passion translation
The message bible
Amen T
07-11-2022, Proverbs 12:12, Which translation speaks to you more clearly on this verse? Why?
Paul specifically pointed Jesus Christ as the root of Jesse in whom the Gentiles put their hope:
“And again, Isaiah says, ‘The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:12–13
For this reason I chose the translations below. To me, in these verses, all clearly point to Jesus as the source of all Righteousness in those who proved to be good soil for the seeds being planted by God. He has taken root and as the source of our faith, is the source of all righteousness in our lives. The other versions kind of do, but these He just stands out.
1.) English Standard Version, but the ROOT OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS bears fruit.
2.) 1599 Geneva Bible, but the ROOT OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS giveth fruit.
3.) International Standard Version, but THE FOUNDATION OF THE RIGHTEOUS is productive.
4.) New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised, but the ROOT OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS bears fruit.
5.) Revised Standard Version, but the ROOT OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS stands firm.
6.) Young’s Literal Translation, And the ROOT OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS giveth.
7.) Complete Jewish Bible, but the ROOT OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS gives forth of itself.