Proverbs 12:13

The evil person is ensnared ¹  by the transgression of his speech, ²  but the righteous person escapes out of trouble. ³ 

Ge 48:16; 2Sa 4:9; 1Ki 2:23; Ps 5:6; Ps 34:19; Ps 64:8; Pr 6:2; Pr 11:8; Pr 15:2; Pr 18:6,7; Ec 7:18; Da 6:24; Mt 27:25; Ro 8:35-37; 2Pe 2:9

¹ tc MT reads the noun מוֹקֵשׁ (moqesh, “bait; lure”). The LXX, Syriac and Tg. Prov 12:13 took it as a passive participle (“is ensnared”). The MT is the more difficult reading and so is preferred. The versions appear to be trying to clarify a difficult reading.

tn Heb “snare of a man.” The word “snare” is the figurative meaning of the noun מוֹקֵשׁ (“bait; lure” from יָקַשׁ [yaqash, “to lay a bait, or lure”]).

² tn Heb “transgression of the lips.” The noun “lips” is a genitive of specification and it functions as a metonymy of cause for speech: sinful talk or sinning by talking. J. H. Greenstone suggests that this refers to litigation; the wicked attempt to involve the innocent (Proverbs, 131).

³ sn J. H. Greenstone suggests that when the wicked become involved in contradictions of testimony, the innocent is freed from the trouble. Another meaning would be that the wicked get themselves trapped by what they say, but the righteous avoid that (Proverbs, 131).