Proverbs 22:20
New International Version
Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge,

New Living Translation
I have written thirty sayings for you, filled with advice and knowledge.

English Standard Version
Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge,

Berean Standard Bible
Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,

King James Bible
Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

New King James Version
Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,

New American Standard Bible
Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,

NASB 1995
Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,

NASB 1977
Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,

Legacy Standard Bible
Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,

Amplified Bible
Have I not written to you excellent things In counsels and knowledge,

Christian Standard Bible
Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,

American Standard Version
Have not I written unto thee excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,

Contemporary English Version
I have written thirty sayings filled with sound advice.

English Revised Version
Have not I written unto thee excellent things of counsels and knowledge;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Didn't I write to you previously with advice and knowledge

Good News Translation
I have written down thirty sayings for you. They contain knowledge and good advice,

International Standard Version
Have I not written for you 30 sayings containing counsel and knowledge,

Majority Standard Bible
Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,

NET Bible
Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge,

New Heart English Bible
Haven't I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,

Webster's Bible Translation
Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

World English Bible
Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Have I not written to you three times "" With counsels and knowledge?

Young's Literal Translation
Have I not written to thee three times With counsels and knowledge?

Smith's Literal Translation
Did I not write to thee three days ago in counsels and knowledge?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge :

Catholic Public Domain Version
Behold, I have written it for you in three ways, and with meditations and knowledge,

New American Bible
Have I not written for you thirty sayings, containing counsels and knowledge,

New Revised Standard Version
Have I not written for you thirty sayings of admonition and knowledge,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Behold, this is the third time that I have written them to you,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And look, I have written these things to you three times
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Have not I written unto thee excellent things Of counsels and knowledge;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And do thou too repeatedly record them for thyself on the table of thine heart, for counsel and knowledge.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Thirty Sayings of the Wise
19So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you. 20Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge, 21to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?…

Cross References
Proverbs 1:1-6
These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel, / for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight, / and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity. ...

Proverbs 3:1-4
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; / for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life. / Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. ...

Proverbs 4:1-2
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. / For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.

Proverbs 8:6-10
Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right. / For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips. / All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse. ...

Proverbs 9:9-10
Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning. / The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 15:28
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.

Proverbs 19:20-21
Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days. / Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.

Ecclesiastes 12:9-10
Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs. / The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.

Isaiah 28:9-10
Whom is He trying to teach? To whom is He explaining His message? To infants just weaned from milk? To babies removed from the breast? / For they hear: “Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line; a little here, a little there.”

Jeremiah 9:23-24
This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. / But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth—for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.

Matthew 7:24-27
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. / The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock. / But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ...

Matthew 13:52
Then He told them, “For this reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

Luke 6:47-49
I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them: / He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the torrent crashed against that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. / But the one who hears My words and does not act on them is like a man who built his house on ground without a foundation. The torrent crashed against that house, and immediately it fell—and great was its destruction!”

John 7:16-17
“My teaching is not My own,” Jesus replied. “It comes from Him who sent Me. / If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own.

Acts 17:11
Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.


Treasury of Scripture

Have not I written to you excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

Proverbs 8:6
Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

Psalm 12:6
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Hosea 8:12
I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.

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Proverbs 22
1. A good name is more desirable than great wealth














Have I not written
This phrase emphasizes the intentionality and purpose behind the written word. In the Hebrew context, writing was a significant means of preserving wisdom and instruction. The act of writing implies a deliberate effort to communicate important truths that are meant to endure. The phrase suggests a rhetorical question, inviting the reader to reflect on the value and authority of the written counsel. It underscores the divine inspiration and careful crafting of the Proverbs, ascribed to Solomon, who was renowned for his wisdom.

for you
The personal nature of this phrase indicates that the wisdom contained in these sayings is intended for the reader's benefit. It suggests a direct and intimate communication from the author to the audience, highlighting the relational aspect of biblical instruction. In a broader sense, it reflects God's personal care and concern for each individual, offering guidance tailored to their life and circumstances.

thirty sayings
The reference to "thirty sayings" may allude to a specific collection within the Book of Proverbs, possibly a structured set of teachings. In ancient Near Eastern literature, collections of wise sayings were common, and the number thirty could symbolize completeness or a comprehensive set of instructions. This phrase invites readers to consider the depth and breadth of wisdom available to them, encouraging a thorough engagement with the teachings.

of counsel
The word "counsel" in Hebrew often conveys the idea of guidance, advice, or purpose. It implies wisdom that is not only theoretical but practical, offering direction for living a life that aligns with God's will. This counsel is meant to be heeded and applied, providing a roadmap for navigating life's challenges and decisions. It reflects the biblical theme that true wisdom leads to righteous living and is a source of protection and blessing.

and knowledge
Knowledge in the biblical sense goes beyond mere information; it encompasses understanding and discernment rooted in the fear of the Lord. This phrase suggests that the sayings provide not only practical advice but also deep insights into the nature of God, humanity, and the world. It highlights the importance of a well-rounded grasp of truth that informs both belief and behavior. In the conservative Christian perspective, this knowledge is seen as foundational to a life of faith and obedience, drawing believers closer to God and equipping them to fulfill their divine purpose.

Verse 20. - Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge? There is a difficulty about the word tendered "excellent things." The Khetib has שׁלשׁום, "the day before yesterday, formerly;" but the word occurs nowhere alone, and, as Nowack says, can hardly have been the original reading. However, Ewald, Bertheau, and others, adopting it, suppose that the author refers to some earlier work. Cheyne cites Bickell's rendering, "Now, years before now, have I written unto thee long before with counsels and knowledge," and considers the words to mean either that the compiler took a long time over his work, or that this was not the first occasion of his writing. One does not see why stress should be here laid on former instruction, unless, perhaps, as Plumptre suggests, in contrast to "this day" of the previous verse. The LXX. renders the word τρισσῶς thus, "And do thou record them for thyself triply for counsel and knowledge upon the table of thine heart." St. Jerome has, Ecce descripsi eam tibi tripliciter, in cogitationibus et scientiis. Other versions have also given a numerical explanation to the term. In it is seen an allusion to the three supposed works of Solomon - Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Canticles - which is absurd; others refer it to the threefold division of the Testament - Law, Prophets, and Hagiographa; others, to three classes of youths for whom the admonitious were intended; others, again, think it equivalent to "oftentimes," or "in many forms." But the reading is as doubtful as the explanations of it are unsatisfactory. The genuine word is doubtless preserved in the Keri, which gives שָׁלִשִׁים (shalishim), properly a military term, applied to chariot fighters and men of rank in the army. The LXX. translates the word by τριστὰτης e.g. Exodus 14:7; Exodus 15:4), which is equivalent to "chieftain." Hence the Hebrew term, understood in the neuter gender, is transferred to the chief among proverbs - "choice proverbs," as Delitzsch calls them. The Venetian, by a happy turn, gives τρισμέγιστα. Thus we come back to the rendering of the Authorized Version as meet correct and intelligible.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Have I not
הֲלֹ֤א (hă·lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

written
כָתַ֣בְתִּי (ḵā·ṯaḇ·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3789: To grave, to write

for you
לְ֭ךָ (lə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

thirty sayings
שָׁלִישִׁ֑ים (šā·lî·šîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8032: Three days ago, day before, yesterday

about counsel
בְּמ֖וֹעֵצֹ֣ת (bə·mō·w·‘ê·ṣōṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4156: Counsel, plan, principle, device

and knowledge,
וָדָֽעַת׃ (wā·ḏā·‘aṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1847: Knowledge


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 22:20 Haven't I written to you thirty excellent (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 22:19
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