Here is a direct side-by-side comparison of the Masoretic Text with the LXX. I have concluded that the LXX is much to be preferred over the Masoretic Text, a position from which the Eastern Orthodox Church never deviated. Perhaps, if you take the time to read my comparisons and other articles, you will arrive at the same conclusion.
The Septuagint version I am using is the Lexham English Septuagint 2nd Edition, which is available in print or as part of Logos Bible Software. Occasionally I also use the Brenton translation of the LXX for insight into difficult passages.
If you want to know more, click on the following links.
- Why Christians Should Prefer the Septuagint over the Masoretic Text.
- Some Insights Gained through Comparing the Masoretic Text to the Septuagint
- More side by side comparisons of the Masoretic Text (MT) to the Septuagint (LXX).
| Masoretic Text | Septuagint | Significance |
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20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: 22 “How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? 23 “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Proverbs 1:20–23 (NASB95) |
20 Wisdom sings in the exits and leads confidently into open areas, 21 and upon the top of the walls she proclaims, and at the gates she sits beside rulers, and at the gates of the city she speaks boldly: 22 “As long as the naive hold to righteousness, they will not be dishonored; but the foolish, since they are ones who long for insolence, after becoming ungodly, they hated insight, 23 and they became subject to reproofs. Look, I will utter a saying to you with my breath, and I will teach you my word. Proverbs 1:20–23 (LES2) |
It is important to remember that all scripture points to Christ. (John 5:39) That is its ultimate purpose. Therefore, we should not be surprised to discover that the first chapter of Proverbs, a book of wisdom, does just that. We saw that the first half of the first chapter of Proverbs is a description of how the Jews rejected Jesus, put him to death, buried him, and tried to erase his memory. That section ended with the warning that they would suffer the consequences. This second section describes the consequences, which is why I believe the Masoretes deliberately altered parts of the text. This particular passage speaks of God’s wisdom, which includes the gospel of Christ, who is the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:30), calling out to the inhabitants to repent (and believe the gospel). Verses 20-21 describe the activity of preachers of the wisdom of God, the gospel. Verse 22 in the LXX is very different from the MT. The LXX lauds those who accept the gospel. Whoever believes in Christ will never be dishonored. (Romans 9:33) In verse 23, the MT says God will pour out his Spirit on you, but the word used in the LXX is not the one for spirit (pneuma), but is one that simply means breath. This refers to those speaking God’s truth about Christ. God’s Word always directs people to Christ, if their hearts are open. |
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24 “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; 26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, 27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. Proverbs 1:24–27 (NASB95) |
24 Since I kept calling yet you did not listen, and I held out words yet you did not pay attention, 25 but you made my counsel void, and you resisted my reproofs; 26 therefore I also will laugh at your destruction, and I will rejoice when your destruction comes, 27 and as your turmoil arrives suddenly, and ruin is present like a hurricane, and when your affliction and siege come, or when your destruction comes. Proverbs 1:24–27 (LES2) |
In verse 26, the MT says that God will laugh at the “calamity” that befalls those who reject the gospel, but the LXX uses a word that means utter destruction, which is exactly what happened to Jerusalem in 70 AD. Those who murdered his Son received their just reward. Verse 27 was altered in the MT to hide the obvious reference to the destruction of Jerusalem. The MT says, “when distress and anguish come upon you.” The LXX says, “when your affliction and siege come.” The Romans besieged Jerusalem before utterly destroying it and the temple. |
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28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. 30 “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. 31 “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices. 32 “For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. Proverbs 1:28–32 (NASB95) |
28 For it will be when you call out for me, then I will not hear you; wicked people will seek me, but they will not find me. 29 For they hated wisdom, and they did not choose the word of the Lord, 30 and they did not want to pay attention to my counsels, but they mocked my reproof. 31 Therefore they will eat the fruit of their own way, and they will be filled with their own ungodliness; 32 for because they were doing wrong to infants, they will be murdered, and scrutiny will destroy the ungodly. Proverbs 1:28–32 (LES2) |
In verse 28, the MT’s “they” is the LXX’s “wicked people.” In verse 29, the MT says that the wicked “hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord.” The LXX says “they hated wisdom and did not choose the word of the Lord,” which is the gospel. Unbelieving Jews mocked the gospel and still do. They will reap a just reward along with all who do the same, whether Jew of Gentile. Verse 32 is quite a shocking variance. The MT speaks of the waywardness of fools, but the LXX specifically says the inhabitants will be murdered for “doing wrong to infants!” This does not bode well for the USA and its love affair with abortion! When God scrutinizes (judges) the ungodly, they will be rightly condemned and destroyed. |
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33 “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.” Proverbs 1:33 (NASB95) |
33 But the one who listens to me will dwell in hope and will rest without fear of any evil.” Proverbs 1:33 (LES2) |
God still holds out an “olive branch” to any who will hear and respond to the gospel. Forgiveness is available in Christ. The Christians escaped Jerusalem’s catastrophe, and all who accept Christ will escape condemnation at the last judgment. (John 5:24, Romans 8:1) |
Summary: The first chapter of Proverbs is a warning to the Jews, and all mankind, against rejecting Christ and the gospel lest we be destroyed! It all becomes clear in the Septuagint.
