8:5 Whoever obeys his 1 command will not experience harm,
and a wise person 2 knows the proper time 3 and procedure.
9:4 But whoever is among 4 the living 5 has hope;
a live dog is better than a dead lion.
1 tn The word “his” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for smoothness and clarity.
2 tn Heb “the heart of a wise man.”
3 tn The term עֵת (’et, “time”) connotes “a proper, suitable time for an event; the right moment” (HALOT 900 s.v. עֵת 6; BDB 773 s.v. עֵת 2.b); e.g., “it was the time for rain” (Ezra 10:13); “a time of judgment for the nations” (Ezek 30:3); “there is an appropriate time for every occasion” (Eccl 3:1); “the time when mountain goats are born” (Job 39:1); “the rain in its season” (Deut 11:14; Jer 5:24); “the time for the harvest” (Hos 2:11; Ps 1:3); “food in its season” (Ps 104:27).
4 tn The consonantal text (Kethib) has “is chosen, selected.” The translation follows the marginal reading (Qere), “is joined.” See BDB 288 s.v. חָבַר Pu.
5 tn Heb “all the living.”