Adam Clarke on Proverbs 24:14
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Proverbs24:14
So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul - True religion, experimental godliness, shall be to thy soul as the honey-comb is to thy mouth.
Then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off - This is precisely the same with that in Pro 23:18 (note), where see the note. The word אחרית acharith, we translate in the former place an end, and here we translate it a reward; but there is no place I believe in the sacred writings in which it has any such acceptation; nor can such a meaning be deduced from the root אחר achar, which always refers to behind, after, extremity, latter part, time, etc., but never carries the idea of recompense, compensation, or such like; nor has one of the versions understood it so. There is another state or life, and thy expectation of happiness in a future world shall not be cut off. In this sense the versions all understood it. I will take them as they lie before me. "Which (wisdom) when thou shalt have found, thou shalt have hope in thy last days; and thy hope shall not perish." - Vulgate. "And if thou find it, thou shalt have a good death; and hope shall not forsake thee." - Septuagint. "Which, if thou have found, thy latter days shall be better than the former; and thy hope shall not be consumed." - Chaldee. "There shall be an end, and thy hope shall not be cut off." - Syriac. "For, if thou shalt find her, (wisdom), thy death shall be glorious, and thy hope will not fail thee." - Arabic.
Whiche whan thou fyndist schalt han in the last thingis, hope: and thin hope schal not perischen - Old MS. Bible. "And there is Good Hope; yee that hope shal not be in vayne." - Coverdale.
This rendering is indefinite, which is not the usual custom of the translator.
Adam Clarke, Commentary and Critical Notes, Proverbs 24:14. Public domain.
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