10:10

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning. The New Revised Standard Version has been used as the source line for 10:10b, because it follows the textual recommendation.

10a
He who winks the eye causes grief,

10b but the one who rebukes buldly makes peace. (New Revised Standard Version)

10:10a

He who winks the eye: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “⌊one who⌋ winks an eye.” Scholars do not know exactly what this action implied to the original readers.

The context may be the same as 6:13a–c (see the note there). In that context, a person winks at his companions to indicate that he intends to deceive or harm someone else. This may be the reason that the New International Version supplies the word “maliciously.”

causes grief: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as grief usually refers to mental pain, grief, or sorrow. Another way to translate this meaning is:

causes heartache (God’s Word)

However, in this context, it may refer to trouble or strife. For example, the New Revised Standard Version and some other English versions have:

causes trouble (New Revised Standard Version)

Both of these meanings fit the context and are well supported. You may use either one.

If winking does not imply malicious or deceptive intentions in your language, some translation options are:

• Make the meaning of the action explicit. For example:

A person who winks ⌊to show that his intentions are bad⌋ causes sorrow/trouble.

• Use a general term rather than a specific action. For example:

If someone signals/gestures that he is going to do something bad, trouble/grief will be the result.

• Translate the significance of winking without mentioning the action itself. For example:

Deceit causes trouble (Contemporary English Version)

10:10b

(New Revised Standard Version) but the one who rebukes boldly makes peace: There is a textual difference in this line:

(1) The LXX has: “He who rebukes candidly makes peace.” For example:

but one who openly criticizes works for peace (Good News Translation)

(2) The Masoretic Text (MT) has: “and a fool of lips will be thrown down.” In the MT, this line is identical to 10:8b. For example:

and foolish talk will bring you to ruin (Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), because it follows the pattern of antithetical proverbs found throughout this section. If you use footnotes, you may want to add a footnote that gives the MT. For example:

This is what the Septuagint (LXX) says. The Hebrew (Masoretic Text) says: “and a person who speaks foolishly will ruin his life.”

(New Revised Standard Version) the one who rebukes boldly makes peace: This line means that if a person openly or frankly reprimands someone else for doing wrong, peaceful or harmonious relationships will be restored. Another way to translate this clause is:

a frank rebuke promotes peace (Revised English Bible)

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