“The mind of him who has understanding seeks knowledge”: This line is very similar to 18.15. “Mind” translates the Hebrew “heart” as the center of thought. “Of him who has understanding” translates a verb form meaning “to be intelligent,” “to have discernment or insight” (see 1.5). “Seeks knowledge” is equivalent to “wants to learn,” “desires to be instructed,” “pursues learning.”

“But the mouths of fools feed on folly”: The written Hebrew text has “face” where Revised Standard Version has “mouths”; but the text to be read has “mouth,” as do also the ancient versions. “Mouths . . . feed” is understood by many interpreters as a rhetorical expression parallel to “mind . . . seeks” in the previous line. “Feed” renders a word used to describe cows and goats eating grass in a field, and so fools nourish or fill themselves with foolishness. Note that Good News Translation avoids both “mouth” and “face” by saying “stupid people are satisfied with. . ..” Contemporary English Version reflects “mouth . . . feed” with “fools are hungry for foolishness.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .