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LXX Proverbs

Septuagint

About this book
Chapter 11

1 False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable to him. 2 Wherever pride enters, there will be also disgrace: but the mouth of the lowly meditates wisdom. 3 When a just man dies he leaves regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy, and causes joy. 4  5 Righteousness traces out blameless paths: but ungodliness encounters unjust dealing. 6 The righteousness of upright men delivers them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction. 7 At the death of a just man his hope does not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perishes. 8 A righteous man escapes from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place. 9 In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare to citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous. 10 In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospers: 11 but by the mouth of ungodly men it is overthrown. 12 A man void of understanding sneers at his fellow citizens: but a sensible man is quiet. 13 A double-tongued man discloses the secret counsels of an assembly: but he that is faithful in spirit conceals matters. 14 They that have no guidance fall like leaves: but in much counsel there is safety. 15 A bad man does harm wherever he meets a just man: and he hates the sound of safety. 16 A gracious wife brings glory to her husband: but a woman hating righteousness is a throne of dishonor. The slothful come to lack wealth: but the diligent support themselves with wealth. 17 A merciful man does good to his own soul: but the merciless destroys his own body. 18 An ungodly man performs unrighteous works: but the seed of the righteous is a reward of truth. 19 A righteous son is born for life: but the persecution of the ungodly ends in death. 20 Perverse ways are an abomination to the Lord: but all they that are blameless in their ways are acceptable to him. 21 He that unjustly strikes hands shall not be unpunished: but he that sows righteousness shall receive a faithful reward. 22 As an ornament in a swine's snout, so is beauty to an ill-minded woman. 23 All the desire of the righteous is good: but the hope of the ungodly shall perish. 24 There are some who scatter their own, and make it more: and there are some also who gather, yet have less. 25 Every sincere soul is blessed: but a passionate man is not graceful. 26 May he that hoards grain leave it to the nation: but blessing be on the head of him that gives it. 27 He that devises good counsels seeks good favor: but as for him that seeks after evil, evil shall overtake him. 28 He that trusts in wealth shall fall; but he that helps righteous men shall rise. 29 He that does not deal graciously with his own house shall inherit the wind; and the fool shall be servant to the wise man. 30 Out of the fruit of righteousness grows a tree of life; but the souls of transgressors are cut off before their time. 31 If the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?⁠

Texts in conversation

Compare LXX Proverbs 11:31 and 1 Peter 4:18

Septuagint · New Testament

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Summary

1 Peter 4 quotes the Greek Septuagint translation of Proverbs 11, retaining its form to underscore the contrast between the narrow rescue of the righteous and the fate of the unrighteous, using a form of argument common in Jewish interpretation.

Passages

LXX Proverbs 11:31

Septuagint
28 He that trusts in wealth shall fall; but he that helps righteous men shall rise. 29 He that does not deal graciously with his own house shall inherit the wind; and the fool shall be servant to the wise man. 30 Out of the fruit of righteousness grows a tree of life; but the souls of transgressors are cut off before their time. 31 If the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
100–1 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in LXX Proverbs

1 Peter 4:18

New Testament
16 But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear such a name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house of God. And if it starts with us, what will be the fate of those who are disobedient to the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the ungodly and sinners? 19 So then let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good.
80–90 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 1 Peter

References

"... This conditional statement structurally and conceptually anticipates the following scriptural warrant, i.e., the citation of Proverbs 11 in verse 18. The rhetorical question in the apodosis is used for the sake of emphasis, stressing how terrible will be the judgment upon unbelievers (on this function of rhetorical questions, see 2:20 on ποῖον ... κλέος). Peter uses an a fortiori argument here (an argument moving from the lesser “to the stronger”): the beginning is not as severe as the later full brunt of the judgment ..."
Mark Dubis, 1 Peter: A Handbook on the Greek Text, BHGNT (Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2010), 155.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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LXX Proverbs 11:31 and 1 Peter 4:18

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