14:29

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

29a
A patient man has great understanding,

29b but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.

14:29a

A patient man: This phrase contrasts exactly with its parallel in 14:29b, “a quick-tempered man.” It refers to a person who is able to control his anger. Such a person does not easily or quickly become angry. Another way to translate this idea is:

If you stay calm (Good News Translation)

has great understanding: In Hebrew, this word for understanding refers to a person’s competence or good sense to do what is appropriate. It does not refer to the ability to understand ideas.

Another way to translate this line is:

The patient man shows much good sense (New American Bible)

14:29b

but a quick-tempered man: Here, a quick-tempered man is someone who easily or quickly becomes angry. Many languages have idioms to express this idea. For example, in English we say that someone is “hot-headed” or “has a short fuse.” If your language has an idiom that would be appropriate in this context, consider using it.

promotes folly: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as promotes is literally “exalts, lifts up.” It can mean either “shows publicly” or “shows to the greatest extent.” Probably both ideas are involved. For example:

but a short temper is the height of stupidity (God’s Word)
-or-
but if you have a hot temper, you only show how stupid you are (Good News Translation)

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