20 for there will be no reward to the evil man; and the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
No reward - literally, "no future," no life worthy to be called life, no blessing.
For there shall be no reboard to the evil man - אחרית acharith. There shall not be the future state of blessedness to the wicked. See the note on Proverbs 24:14 (note). His candle shall be put out; his prosperity shall finally cease, or he shall have no posterity. Some have thought that this text intimates the annihilation of sinners; but it refers not to being, but to the state or condition of that being. The wicked shall be; but they shall not be Happy.
For there shall be no reward to the evil man,.... No reward of good things, such as is for the righteous in a way of grace; but he shall have a reward of evil things, a just recompence of reward for his sins: of "no end" (r); there will be an end of his life in this world, and there will be an end of his prosperity; but, as the Targum is, there will be no "good end" to him; his end will not be like that of the perfect and upright man, for it will be cut off, Psalm 37:37; or, as the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "the wicked have no hope of future things"; no good hope of everlasting happiness; they have their good things now, and their evil things hereafter; and therefore are not to be fretted at and envied. Aben Ezra interprets it, they shall have no offspring or issue, son or nephew; the word is sometimes used for posterity;
the candle of the wicked shall be put out; meaning not the dim light of nature in them, nor the light of life before their time, so Aben Ezra; but their prosperity, riches, splendour, and glory, which candle is often put out while they live, and always at death; after which they have no more light, honour, and happiness; even not so much as the light of a candle, to which their prosperity in this life is compared, it being at best but small, and of a short continuance; see Job 18:5; and therefore should not be the object of the envy of good men, who are in a more happy and stable condition than they.
(r) "finis", Pagninus, Vatablus, Baynus, Junius & Tremellius, Mercerus, Gejerus.
candle--or, "prosperity"; it shall come to an end (Proverbs 13:9; Proverbs 20:20).
No reward - All his happiness shall quickly and eternally perish. The candle - All their comfort and glory shall cease.
*More commentary available at chapter level.