Proverbs 12:6

The words of the wicked lie in wait ¹  to shed innocent blood, ²  but the words ³  of the upright will deliver them.

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.

The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush, but the words of the godly save lives.

The words of the wicked kill; the speech of the upright saves.

The words of sinners are destruction for the upright; but the mouth of upright men is their salvation.

The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush, but the speech of the upright delivers them.

The words of the wicked are , "Lie in wait for blood," But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.

The words of the wicked lie in wait ¹  to shed innocent blood, ²  but the words ³  of the upright will deliver them.

¹ tn The infinitive construct אֱרָב (’erav, “to lie in wait”) expresses the purpose of their conversations. The idea of “lying in wait for blood” is an implied comparison (hypocatastasis): Their words are like an ambush intended to destroy (cf. NAB, NRSV “are a deadly ambush”). The words of the wicked are here personified.

² tn Heb “for blood.” The term “blood” is a metonymy of effect, the cause being the person that they will attack and whose blood they will shed. After the construct “blood” is also an objective genitive.

³ tn Heb “mouth.” The term פֶּה (peh, “mouth”) is a metonymy of cause, signifying what the righteous say. The righteous can make a skillful defense against false accusations that are intended to destroy. The righteous, who have gained wisdom, can escape the traps set by the words of the wicked.