2:19 None who go in to her will return, 1
nor will they reach the paths of life. 2
14:6 The scorner 3 seeks wisdom but finds none, 4
but understanding is easy 5 for a discerning person.
1 tn Heb “all who go in to her will not return.”
2 sn The phrase “reach the paths of life” is a figurative expression for experiencing joy and fullness of blessing (BDB 673 s.v. נָשַׂג 2.a).
3 sn The “scorner” (לֵץ, lets) is intellectually arrogant; he lacks any serious interest in knowledge or religion. He pursues wisdom in a superficial way so that he can appear wise. The acquisition of wisdom is conditioned by one’s attitude toward it (J. H. Greenstone, Proverbs, 149).
4 tn Heb “and there is not.”
5 sn The Niphal of קָלַל (qalal) means “to appear light; to appear trifling; to appear easy.”