of the Holy Scriptures or to keep the original. The original Hebrew word in the Masoretic text is the reflexive participle of the verb athar, and, according to the aforementioned Lexicon, the word means “be entreated.” The New World Translation thus sticks to the original word and renders it “be entreated.”

Another translation that basically sticks to the original Hebrew word is The Soncino Books of the Bible, which renders Proverbs 27:6 this way: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are importunate.” The word “importunate,” of course, conveys the thought of asking repeatedly or of entreating. This same translation also has a footnote on Proverbs 27:6, showing the problem with which translators are faced: “Importunate. It is uncertain what [the translator] intends by this translation. A.V. has deceitful and R.V. profuse. . . . Modern commentators emend the text to obtain a more usual word meaning ‘deceptive’ as a contrast to faithful; but Eitan and Ehrlich maintain that the Hebrew word has that signification [that is, importunate] on the analogy of the [related] Arabic, although each connects it with a different Arabic root.”

Here is an instance, then, where Bible translators, not appreciating what the writer meant, changed the text so that it would read in a way that made sense to them. But the thought seems to be that a lover will inflict a wound upon one in a faithful way in order to do one good. On the other hand, if one wants to have a hater do one a nice, kind thing, he would have to entreat him, because his hate does not naturally incite him to bestow kisses upon the object of his hatred. Instead, he wants to act cruelly. So one has to importune or entreat a hater to render one a kindness. One may even have to entreat the indifferent person. In the parable of the widow and the judge, Jesus Christ told about a judge who did not fear God or have any respect for man. It was only because the widow kept on entreating the judge that he finally responded to her appeals and saw that she got the relief to which she was entitled. (Luke 18:1-5) The judge did not have his heart in it. Likewise even if a hater does render a kindness to one, as a result of being entreated, he may not have his heart in it or behind it and may do it just to be relieved of that one’s entreaties. A person does not have to entreat his hater to inflict a wound upon him; but something nice like a kiss, yes. But the lover who inflicts faithful wounds does so with love in his heart and without having to be entreated.

Announcements

FIELD MINISTRY

Manifesting their subjection to Jehovah God, Jehovah’s witnesses will continue to carry out their ministry during August, offering to all persons the Bible-study books “Let Your Name Be Sanctified” and “Your Will Be Done on Earth,” with two booklets, on a contribution of just $1.

NEW INSIGHT TO THE LORD’S PRAYER

One line from Jesus’ model prayer, the Lord’s prayer, would fill a book. So packed with meaning is each phrase that thousands of words are needed to appreciate their full significance. Do you know what Jesus meant when he taught us to pray: “Let your name be sanctified,” and, “Your will be done on earth”? Two books have been written on just these two lines from Jesus’ prayer, bearing as their titles these significant words. Send for both books and repeat this inspiring prayer with a new insight. Send now and receive free two timely booklets. Both books, only $1.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS

September 1: Religion and the Nuclear Age. Page 457.

September 8: Surviving Through Faith. Page 464.