13:14
In this verse, line 13:14b adds to the thought of 13:14a. There are no parallel pairs.
14a The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
14b turning one from the snares of death.
13:14a
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life: This clause is a metaphor. The teaching of the wise is compared to a fountain of flowing water. Here is a way to express the similarity between them:
The teaching of the wise is a life-giving fountain (New Jerusalem Bible)
The teaching of the wise: This phrase refers to what wise people teach.
a fountain of life: For the meaning of this phrase, see the note on 10:11a. The word that most versions translate as fountain refers to a spring or other source of flowing water. It does not refer to a decorative “fountain” that sprays water into the air, such as those found in parks.
In some languages, a literal translation of this metaphor may be difficult to understand. Another way to translate it is to change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
The advice of wise people is like a spring that gives life.
-or-
What wise people teach gives life as a spring gives water.
life: As in 4:13b, the word life implies a better or longer life.
13:14b
turning one from the snares of death: This phrase expresses the purpose and result of the teaching of the wise. It also explains how the teaching of the wise is like a fountain of life. Their teaching gives life by helping people to avoid death. You may make one of these relationships explicit. For example:
The purpose of their advice is to help people escape from life-threatening dangers.
-or-
Obeying this teaching results in a person avoiding deadly traps.
You may also leave this relationship implied. For example:
The person who obeys these teachings will avoid dangerous situations in which he might be killed.
See also the Good News Translation and New Living Translation (2004), quoted below.
snares of death: This phrase is probably a complex figure of speech. In this figure of speech, death is personified. It is compared to a hunter who sets traps in order to catch and kill people. Some ways to translate this figure of speech are:
• Keep the figurative word snares, but do not personify death. For example:
that helps you escape all deadly traps (Contemporary English Version)
• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
they will help you escape when your life is in danger (Good News Translation)
-or-
They will help a person to avoid death.
It is implied that a person who avoids death is one who follows the teachings of the wise. Some versions make this implied information explicit. For example:
those who accept it avoid the snares of death (New Living Translation (2004))
You will need to decide whether or not to make this information explicit in your language.
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