The verb uttered translates the common Hebrew verb often rendered “spoke” or “said.” It is, in fact, the same verb that Revised Standard Version translates “spoke” at the beginning of verse 33. Good News Translation and New Jerusalem Bible translate this verb according to the context as “composed.” Some other possible renderings are “pronounced” (Bible en français courant) and “wrote” (Contemporary English Version). But translators will have to decide whether to focus on the oral or written nature of Solomon’s proverbs. Since many of his proverbs are written down, perhaps it would be better to translate “wrote.”

The Hebrew noun rendered proverbs covers a wide range of forms, including “mocking taunts,” “speeches,” “short sayings,” “maxims,” and “proverbs.” Here it refers to wise sayings or “aphorisms” (Moffatt).

Songs is literally “song.” The Hebrew noun is singular in form but must be understood collectively in the context. The Septuagint and other ancient versions in fact translate with the plural here. The Hebrew noun rendered songs often refers to religious songs, but in this context such a limited meaning is probably not intended.

A thousand and five: If this is a round figure and was not intended to be a precise figure, then the more vivid translation “more than a thousand” (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie) is acceptable. An American Translation follows a couple of Septuagint manuscripts and says “five thousand,” but this is not recommended.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .