Paragraph 4:18–19

This paragraph gives a concluding contrast between the lives of righteous and wicked people. In Hebrew, it begins with a word that is often translated as “and” or “but.” A number of English versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, place this word at the beginning of 4:19. Some versions leave it implied.

4:18

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning. Both the parallel parts compare the lives of righteous people to light.

18a The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,

18b
shining brighter and brighter until midday.

4:18a–b

The path of the righteous: In this verse, the phrase path of the righteous probably refers to the things that righteous people experience during their lives. Here is another way to translate this:

The road the righteous travel (Good News Translation)

Another way to translate The path of the righteous is:

This is what people who do what is right will experience in their lives. Their lives will be like…

like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday: In these parallel comparisons, the second phrase clarifies and expands the thought of the first. The course of life of righteous people is compared to the light of the sun at dawn. The light gets steadily brighter until it reaches its full brightness.

until midday: The word translated midday probably refers to the bright light of the daytime in contrast to the dim light of early dawn. In the middle of the day the sun is shining at maximum brightness. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

broad day (Revised English Bible)
-or-
full light of day (New International Version)
-or-
full daylight (New Century Version)

Scholars do not agree on the figurative meaning of light in this context. Several think it refers primarily to safety. Others think that it describes increasing knowledge, happiness, or prosperity. Because there are several possible points of comparison, it is recommended that you not make one point of comparison explicit in the translation.

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