¹ tn Heb “crookedness.” The noun עִקְּשׁוּת (’iqqÿshut) refers to what is morally twisted or perverted. Here it refers to things that are said (cf. NAB “dishonest talk”; NRSV “crooked speech”). The term “mouth” functions as a metonymy of cause for perverse speech. Such perverse talking could be subtle or blatant.

² tn Heb “crookedness of mouth.”

³ tn Heb “deviousness of lips put far from you.”

⁴ sn The advice refers in all probability to the teachings of the sages that will make one wise.

⁵ tn The proverb is one continuous thought, but the second half of the verse provides the purpose for the imperatives of the first half.

⁶ tn The imperfect tense has the nuance of a final imperfect in a purpose clause, and so is translated “that you may become wise” (cf. NAB, NRSV).

⁷ tn Heb “become wise in your latter end” (cf. KJV, ASV) which could obviously be misunderstood.

⁸ sn The point of the saying is that wise counsel is necessary in war. Victory, strategy, and counsel are more important than mere military strength – many great armies have been destroyed because of their unwise leaders. See on this theme 11:14; 20:18; and 21:22.