24:30 I passed by the field of a sluggard,
by the vineyard of one who lacks wisdom. 1
31:16 She considers 2 a field and buys it;
from her own income 3 she plants a vineyard.
1 tn Heb “lacks heart”; KJV “understanding”; NAB, NASB, NLT “sense.”
2 tn The first word of the seventh line begins with ז (zayin), the seventh letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
sn The word “considers” means “to plan carefully” in accordance with her purposes. The word is often used in the book of Proverbs for devising evil; but here it is used positively of the woman’s wise investment.
3 tn Heb “from the fruit of her hands.” The expression employs two figures. “Hands” is a metonymy of cause, indicating the work she does. “Fruit” is a hypocatastasis, an implied comparison meaning what she produces, the income she earns. She is able to plant a vineyard from her income.