Proverbs 6:5

6:5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from a snare,

and like a bird from the trap of the fowler.

Proverbs 25:6

25:6 Do not honor yourself before the king,

and do not stand in the place of great men;

Proverbs 30:32

30:32 If you have done foolishly by exalting yourself

or if you have planned evil,

put your hand over your mouth!


tn Heb “from the hand.” Most translations supply “of the hunter.” The word “hand” can signify power, control; so the meaning is that of a gazelle freeing itself from a snare or a trap that a hunter set.

tc Heb “hand” (so KJV, NAB, NRSV). Some mss and versions have it as “trap,” which may very well represent an interpretation too.

tn The construction has the בְּ (bet) preposition with the Hitpael infinitive construct, forming a temporal clause. This clause explains the way in which the person has acted foolishly.

tn Heb “hand to mouth.” This express means “put your hand to your mouth” (e.g., Job 40:4, 5); cf. NIV “clap your hand over.”