Jeremiah 9:23

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

But let the one who boasts boast in this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for in these things I delight, declares the Lord.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כִּ֣י אִם־בְּזֹ֞את יִתְהַלֵּ֣ל הַמִּתְהַלֵּ֗ל הַשְׂכֵּל֮ וְיָדֹ֣עַ אוֹתִי֒ כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֔ה עֹ֥שֶׂה חֶ֛סֶד מִשְׁפָּ֥ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה בָּאָ֑רֶץ כִּֽי־בְאֵ֥לֶּה חָפַ֖צְתִּי נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃

Transliteration

kî 'im-in-this yithallēl hammithallēl haśkēl wĕyādōa' 'ôtî kî 'ănî YHWH 'ōśeh ḥesed mišpāṭ ûṣĕdāqāh in-the-'āreṣ kî-in-these ḥāpaṣtî nĕ'um-YHWH

Grammar Details

• *kî*: conjunction - for
• *'im*: conditional particle - if
• *yithallēl*: imperfect verb, 3rd person masculine singular, hitpael, jussive - let him boast
• *hammithallēl*: participle, masculine singular, hitpael with definite article - the one boasting
• *haśkēl*: infinitive absolute, hiphil - understanding
• *wĕyādōa'*: conjunction + infinitive absolute - and knowing
• *'ôtî*: direct object marker with 1st person singular suffix - me
• *'ănî*: 1st person singular pronoun - I
• *YHWH*: divine name
• *'ōśeh*: participle, masculine singular - doing/practicing
• *ḥesed*: masculine noun - lovingkindness
• *mišpāṭ*: masculine noun - justice
• *ûṣĕdāqāh*: conjunction + feminine noun - and righteousness
• *'āreṣ*: feminine noun with prefixed preposition - in the earth
• *ḥāpaṣtî*: perfect verb, 1st person singular - I delight
• *nĕ'um-YHWH*: construct phrase - declaration of YHWH

Word Meanings

• *kî 'im*: but rather/except in/only in
• *yithallēl*: let him boast/glory/praise himself
• *hammithallēl*: the one boasting/glorying/priding himself
• *haśkēl wĕyādōa'*: understanding and knowing (emphatic construction)
• *'ôtî*: me/myself
• *'ōśeh*: doing/practicing/performing
• *ḥesed*: lovingkindness/steadfast love/mercy
• *mišpāṭ*: justice/judgment/right
• *ûṣĕdāqāh*: and righteousness/equity/virtue
• *'āreṣ*: earth/land/world
• *ḥāpaṣtî*: I delight/take pleasure/desire
• *nĕ'um-YHWH*: declaration of YHWH/utterance of YHWH

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Thus says the LORD, 'Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, nor let the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches:

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Thus saith Jehovah, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches;

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Morouer, thus saieth the LORDE: Let not the wise man reioyse in his wisdome, ner the stronge man in his strength, nether the rich man in his riches:

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisedome, nor the strong man glorie in his strength, neyther the riche man glorie in his riches.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Thus saith the Lorde: Let not the wise man reioyce in his wisdome, nor the strong man in his strength, neither the riche man in his riches:

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches:

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Thus says Yahweh, Don't let the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, don't let the rich man glory in his riches;

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  Thus said Jehovah: Let not the wise boast himself in his wisdom, Nor let the mighty boast himself in his might, Let not the rich boast himself in his riches,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Thus saith Jehovah, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Thus saith Jehovah, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  This is the word of the Lord: Let not the wise man take pride in his wisdom, or the strong man in his strength, or the man of wealth in his wealth:

• World English Bible (2000)

  Thus says Yahweh, Don't let the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, don't let the rich man glory in his riches;

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The LORD says,“Wise people should not boast that they are wise. Powerful people should not boast that they are powerful. Rich people should not boast that they are rich.

Referenced Verses

• Eccl 9:11 : 11 Again I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor does bread come to the wise, nor riches to the discerning, nor favor to the knowledgeable; but time and chance happen to them all.
• Job 31:24-25 : 24 If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my security, 25 if I rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had obtained much,
• 1 Cor 1:27-29 : 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 So that no one may boast before him.
• 1 Cor 3:18-20 : 18 Let no one deceive themselves. If anyone among you thinks they are wise in this age, let them become foolish so that they may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written, 'He catches the wise in their craftiness.' 20 And again, 'The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.'
• 1 Kgs 20:10-11 : 10 Then Ben-Hadad sent another message: 'May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if the dust of Samaria will suffice for even a handful for each of the people who follow me.' 11 The king of Israel replied, 'Tell him: One who arms himself for battle should not boast as if he is already victorious.'
• Mark 10:24 : 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, 'Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!'
• Rom 1:22 : 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools.
• Isa 5:21 : 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight!
• Isa 10:8 : 8 For he says, 'Are not all my princes kings?
• Isa 10:12-13 : 12 When the Lord has finished all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will punish the pride of the king of Assyria's heart and the glory of his haughty eyes. 13 For he says, 'By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, plundered their treasures, and brought down their mighty ones like a bull.'
• Isa 36:8-9 : 8 Now then, make a wager with my master, the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses—if you can provide riders for them! 9 How then can you turn away even one of the least of my master’s officials? And you rely on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?
• Ezek 7:19 : 19 They will throw their silver in the streets, and their gold will be treated as unclean. Their silver and gold will not be able to save them on the day of the LORD's wrath. They cannot satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs with it, for it has caused their stumbling into sin.
• Ezek 28:2-9 : 2 Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: Because your heart has grown proud, and you have said, “I am a god; I sit in the seat of gods, in the heart of the seas,” but you are a man and not a god, though you have set your heart as if it were the heart of a god— 3 Indeed, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you. 4 By your wisdom and understanding, you have made wealth for yourself, and you have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries. 5 By your great skill in trading, you have increased your wealth, and your heart has grown proud because of your wealth. 6 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have set your heart as if it were the heart of a god, 7 therefore, behold, I will bring strangers upon you, the most ruthless of nations. They will draw their swords against your beauty and wisdom, and they will defile your splendor. 8 They will bring you down to the pit, and you will die the death of the slain in the heart of the seas. 9 Will you still say, “I am a god,” in the presence of those who kill you? Yet you are a man and not a god in the hands of those who wound you.
• Ezek 29:9 : 9 The land of Egypt will become a desolate waste. Then they will know that I am the LORD. Because he said, 'The Nile is mine; I made it,'
• Dan 3:15 : 15 Now, if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the statue I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will immediately be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace. And who is the god who can rescue you from my hands?'
• Dan 4:30-31 : 30 Immediately, what was spoken about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people, ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. 31 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me. I praised the Most High, honored, and glorified Him who lives forever: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
• Dan 5:18-23 : 18 'O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty, greatness, glory, and splendor.' 19 Because of the greatness that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. He killed whomever he wanted, spared whomever he wanted, exalted whomever he wanted, and humbled whomever he wanted. 20 But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him. 21 He was driven away from people, his mind became like that of an animal, and he lived among the wild donkeys. He ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of men and sets over it whomever He wishes. 22 But you, his son Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. You had the vessels from His house brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives, and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which cannot see, hear, or understand. But the God who holds your breath in His hand and controls all your ways, you have not glorified.
• Ps 33:16-17 : 16 A king is not saved by a large army; a warrior will not be delivered by great strength. 17 A horse is a false hope for victory, and its great strength does not provide escape.
• Ps 49:6-9 : 6 Why should I fear in evil days, when iniquity surrounds me, at my heels? 7 Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the abundance of their riches— 8 no man can redeem another or give to God a ransom for him— 9 for the redemption of their soul is costly, and it ceases forever— 10 that he should live on forever and not see the pit of decay. 11 For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others. 12 Their inward thought is that their houses will last forever, and their dwelling places for all generations; they call their lands by their own names. 13 But man in his honor does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.
• Ps 49:16-18 : 16 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me. Selah. 17 Do not be afraid when a man grows rich, when the glory of his house increases. 18 For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his glory will not follow him down.
• Ps 52:6-7 : 6 You love all words that destroy, O deceitful tongue. 7 But God will tear you down forever; He will snatch and uproot you from your tent and dislodge you from the land of the living. Selah.
• Ps 62:10 : 10 Surely the lowborn are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie. If weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath.
• Prov 11:4 : 4 Riches do not profit on the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
• Eccl 2:13-16 : 13 I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness. 14 The wise have eyes in their heads, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate overtakes them both. 15 Then I said in my heart, 'What happens to the fool will also happen to me. So why have I been so very wise?' And I concluded in my heart, 'This too is meaningless.' 16 For the wise, like the fool, will not be remembered forever; in the days to come, everything will be forgotten. How does the wise person die? Just like the fool!
• Eccl 2:19 : 19 And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will rule over all the fruit of my labor that I have worked for under the sun. This too is meaningless.
• 1 Cor 1:19-21 : 19 For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the understanding of the intelligent I will frustrate.' 20 Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish? 21 For since in God’s wisdom the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
• Luke 12:19-20 : 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink, and be merry.”' 20 But God said to him, 'Fool! This very night your soul will be required of you, and the things you have prepared—who will they belong to?'
• Acts 12:22-23 : 22 The crowd kept shouting, 'This is the voice of a god, not of a man!' 23 Immediately, an angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give glory to God. He was eaten by worms and died.
• Job 5:12-14 : 12 He frustrates the plans of the crafty so that their hands achieve no success. 13 He traps the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the twisted are quickly foiled. 14 They encounter darkness by day and grope in the noonday as if it were night.
• Deut 8:17 : 17 You may say in your heart, 'My power and the strength of my hand have produced this wealth for me.'
• 1 Sam 17:4-9 : 4 Then a champion emerged from the Philistine camp, named Goliath, from Gath. His height was six cubits and a span. 5 He wore a bronze helmet on his head and a coat of scale armor that weighed five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 He also wore bronze greaves on his legs and carried a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and its iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels. His shield-bearer went ahead of him. 8 Goliath stood and called out to the ranks of Israel, saying, 'Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.' 9 If he is able to fight me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I defeat him and kill him, then you will be our servants and serve us. 10 The Philistine continued, 'I defy the armies of Israel this day. Give me a man so we can fight each other.'
• 1 Sam 17:42 : 42 When the Philistine looked and saw David, he despised him, for David was just a young man, ruddy and handsome in appearance.
• 1 Tim 6:10 : 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
• Jas 3:14-16 : 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast and deny the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For where there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice.
• Zeph 1:18 : 18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to rescue them on the day of the Lord's wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy, for He will bring a sudden and complete destruction on all the inhabitants of the earth.
• Amos 2:14-16 : 14 Flight will perish from the swift, the strong will not retain their strength, and the warrior will not save his life. 15 The archer will not stand his ground, the swift-footed will not escape, and the horseman will not save his life. 16 Even the bravest of warriors will flee naked on that day,' declares the LORD.