כֹּה ׀ אָמַר יְהוָה אַל־יִתְהַלֵּל חָכָם בְּחָכְמָתוֹ וְאַל־יִתְהַלֵּל הַגִּבּוֹר בִּגְבֽוּרָתוֹ אַל־יִתְהַלֵּל עָשִׁיר בְּעָשְׁרֽוֹThus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches" [ESV]
The sentiment is completed in the next verse: "'but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.'"
Tom Blanchard, the host of these weekend editions, notes the relationship between חָכָם (a "wise man") and חָכְמָתוֹ ("his wisdom"), between הַגִּבּוֹר ("the mighty man") and גְבֽוּרָתוֹ ("his might"), and between עָשִׁיר (a "rich man") and עָשְׁרֽוֹ ("his riches"), which the ESV retains.
Because these words are so closely related, there's almost a reflexive sense. Although the wise man is boasting in his wisdom, the mighty man is boasting in his might, and the rich man is boasting in his riches, common to all is a man boasting in himself (what he possesses or what he's done). These closely related words indicate the inward-looking nature that must be eschewed in favor of looking to God. This contrast is also present in Psalm 146: "3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. 4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. 5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever."
