Featured The NIV In Comparison to the ESV. Part 3

Yes, instead, they've passed over it.

 

Proverbs 24

v. 1
ESV : Be not envious
NIV : Do not envy

v.6
ESV : in abundance of counselors there is victory
NIV : victory is won by through many advisers

v. 10
ESV : If you faint in the day of adversity
NIV : If you falter in a time of trouble

v. 15
ESV : Lie not in wait as a wicked man
NIV : Do not lurk like a thief

v. 17
ESV : let not your heart be glad
NIV : do not let your heart rejoice

v. 19
ESV : Fret not
NIV : Do not fret

v. 28
ESV : Be not a witness
NIV : Do not testify

v. 32
ESV : Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.
NIV : I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw

v. 34
ESV : and want like an armed man
NIV : and scarcity like an armed man

 

Robert has been 'translated' to Glory. Bill is now with the CBT team.

 

Proverbs 25

v.10
ESV : lest he who hears you bring shame upon you and your ill repute have no end.
NIV : or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand.

v. 19
ESV : Trusting in a treacherous man
NIV : reliance on the unfaithful

v.20
ESV : like vinegar on soda
NIV : like vinegar poured on a wound

v. 27
ESV : nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory.
NIV : nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.

 

Proverbs 26

v.4
ESV : Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
CEB : Don't answer fools according to their folly, or you will become like them yourself.

v. 12
ESV : Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?
CEB : Do you see people who consider themselves wise?

v. 20
ESV : For lack of wood a fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
CEB : Without wood a fire goes out; without gossips, conflict calms down.

v. 25
ESV : when he speaks graciously, believe him not
CEB : Though they speak graciously, don't believe them

 

Proverbs 27

v. 12
ESV : The prudent sees danger
NIV : The prudent see danger

v. 17
ESV : one man sharpens another
NIV : one person sharpens another

v. 19
ESV : As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.
NIV : As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart.

v. 27
ESV : maintenance for your girls
NIV : to nourish your female servants.

 

Yes, that is an example of clunkliness in the NIV. Elsewhere, on another thread, I recall not which one I had remarked that the NIV is not free of these missteps. I have sent suggestions for the NT, but there are still instances of awkward English here and there in the NIV. The NLT is beeter in that regard.

 

I did some checking for 'let not' in the NIV. There are seven verses, that use that kind of wording --- 5 in the O.T. and 2 in the NT. The CSB used that sort of old-fashioned wording 4 times.

Of course there other kinds of old-fashioned constructions in the NIV such as the one you pointed out. It requires a weeding process. But for the ESV, it will mandate a much more intensive operation.

 

Proverbs 28

v. 10
ESV : a goodly inheritance
NIV : a good inheritance

v.14
ESV : Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always
NIV : Blessed is the one who always trembles before God
[Here I have no objection to the ESV wording. The ESV sounds NIV-like on this occasion.]

v. 22
ESV : A stingy man hastens after wealth
NIV : The stingy are eager to get rich

v. 26
ESV : he who walks in wisdom will be delivered
NIV : those who walk in wisdom are kept safe

v. 27
ESV : he who hides his eyes
NIV : those who close their eyes to them

 

Proverbs 29

v. 4
ESV : By justice a king builds up the land, but he who exacts gifts tears it down.
NIV : By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.

v. 7
ESV : A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.
NIV : The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.

v. 9
ESV : If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.
NIV : If a wise person goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

v. 21
ESV : will in the end find him his heir
NIV : will turn out to be insolent

v. 24
ESV : he hears the curse, but discloses nothing
NIV : they are put under oath and dare not testify

v. 25
ESV : The fear of man lays a snare
NIV : Fear of man will prove to be a snare

 

Proverbs 30

v. 7
ESV : deny them not to me
NIV : do not refuse me

v. 9
ESV : lest
NIV : Otherwise

v. 13
ESV : how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift!
NIV : whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful

v. 23
ESV : an unloved woman when she gets a husband
NIV : a contemptible woman who gets married

v. 25
ESV : the ants are a people not strong,
NIV : Ants are creatures of little strength,

v. 26
ESV : the rock badgers are a people not mighty,
NIV : hyraxes are creatures of little power,

v.30
ESV : does not turn back before any,
NIV : who retreats before nothing;

v. 33
ESV : For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife
NIV : For as churning cream produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.

 

Fair play is fair play. The NLT is better with respect to eliminating old-fashioned English. But I have spotted a few examples. I haven't jotted them down though.

 

Yes, that rendering is a definitive one. However, my favorite is found in Lev. 26:10 : "You shall eat old store long kept." It wins the Clunky Award, hands down. Tonto and Yoda must have been the English stylists.

Even the KJV doesn't fare as badly as the ESV does here.

 

Proverbs 31

v. 8
ESV : Open your mouth for the mute
NIV : Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves

v. 17
ESV : She dresses herself with strength
NIV : She sets about her work vigorously

v. 18
ESV : She perceives that her merchandise is profitable
NIV : She sees that her trading is profitable

v. 23
ESV : Her husband is known in the gates
NIV : Her husband is respected at the city gate

v. 27
ESV : She looks well to the ways of her household
NIV : She watches over the affairs of her household

v. 28
ESV : Many women have done excellently
NIV : Many women do noble things

v. 31
ESV : Give her the fruit of her hands
NIV : Honor her for all that her hands have done