19 Or “encroach on” (, ); Heb “go into.”
20 The participle גֹּאֵל (go’el) describes a “kinsman redeemer.” Some English versions explicitly cite “God” (e.g., , ) or “the Lord” (e.g. ). The Hebrew term describes a “kinsman-redeemer.” That individual would be a rich or powerful relative who can protect the family; he does this by paying off the debts of a poor relative, buying up the property of a relative who sells himself into slavery, marrying the widow of a deceased relative to keep the inheritance in the family, or taking vengeance on someone who harms a relative, that vengeance often resulting in delivering (“redeeming”) the relative from bondage. If there was no human “kinsman redeemer,” then the defenseless had to rely on God to perform these actions (e.g., Gen 48:16; Exod 6:6; Job 19:25; Isa 41–63). In the prophetic literature God is presented as the Redeemer in that he takes vengeance on the enemies (the Babylonians) to deliverer his people (kin). In this proverb the Lord is probably the Protector of these people who will champion their cause and set things right.
21 This is the tenth saying; once again there is a warning not to encroach on other people’s rights and property, especially the defenseless (see v. 10; 22:22–23, 28).
22 Heb “bring.” The Hiphil imperative “come; enter” means “to apply the heart,” to use the heart or mind in the process. The same would be true in the second half: “to bring the ears” would mean to listen very carefully. Cf. “Pay attention.”
23 Or “punish” (). The syntax of these two lines suggests a conditional clause (cf. , ).
24 Heb “his soul.” The term נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “soul”) functions as a synecdoche of part (= soul) for the whole (= person); see 660 4.
25 The term שְׁאוֹל (shé’ol, “Sheol”) in this context probably means “death” (so , , ) and not the realm of the departed (wicked) spirits (cf. “the nether world”). In the wisdom of other lands, Ahiqar 6:82 says, “If I strike you, my son, you will not die.” The idea is that discipline helps the child to a full life; if the child dies prematurely, it would be more than likely a consequence of not being trained by discipline. In the book of Proverbs the “death” mentioned here could be social as well as physical.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Do not move an ancient landmark

or enter the fields of the fatherless,

for their Redeemer is strong;

he will plead their cause against you.

Apply your heart to instruction

and your ear to words of knowledge.

Do not withhold discipline from a child;

if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

If you strike him with the rod,

you will save his soul from Sheol.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Do not move an ancient boundary stone

or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

for their Defender is strong;

he will take up their case against you.

Apply your heart to instruction

and your ears to words of knowledge.

Do not withhold discipline from a child;

if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.

Punish them with the rod

and save them from death.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Don’t move an ancient boundary marker,

and don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

for their Redeemer is strong,

and he will champion their cause against you.

Apply yourself to discipline

and listen to words of knowledge.

Don’t withhold discipline from a youth;

if you punish him with a rod, he will not die.

Punish him with a rod,

and you will rescue his life from Sheol.

NLTNew Living Translation

Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers;

don’t take the land of defenseless orphans.

For their Redeemer is strong;

he himself will bring their charges against you.

Commit yourself to instruction;

listen carefully to words of knowledge.

Don’t fail to discipline your children.

The rod of punishment won’t kill them.

Physical discipline

may well save them from death.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Do not remove an ancient boundary marker,

and on the fields of orphans do not encroach;

For their redeemer is strong,

he himself will plead their cause against you.

Apply your heart to instruction,

and your ear to sayings of knowledge.

Do not withhold discipline from a child,

if you will beat him with the rod, he will not die.

As for you, with the rod you shall beat him,

and his life you will save from Sheol.

KJV 1900King James Version

Remove not the old landmark;

And enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

For their redeemer is mighty;

He shall plead their cause with thee.

Apply thine heart unto instruction,

And thine ears to the words of knowledge.

Withhold not correction from the child:

For if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

Thou shalt beat him with the rod,

And shalt deliver his soul from hell.

Public Domain