This saying is made up of two lines that describe the fate of those who cause trouble with their family.

“He who troubles his household will inherit the wind”: One interpretation of this line is that “his household” refers to the person’s family, and in particular to the father who will divide his property at his death. “Inherit the wind” is to say that such a person inherits nothing or is the heir to nothing. The thought is well expressed by Good News Translation. We may also say, for example, “If you create trouble in your family, you will inherit nothing from them.” If the idea of inheritance is not clear, it may be necessary to say, for example, “If you are a troublemaker in your family, at the death of someone you will receive nothing.”

“And the fool will be servant to the wise”: If “the fool” here is the family troublemaker, we may take it that he, because he ends up with nothing, is forced to become a servant, that is, to find employment with someone who is wise. For “fool” refer to 1.7. The word for “servant” may be taken here to mean “slave.” “The wise” is literally “wise heart.”

Another interpretation of the verse, preferred by Whybray, is that “household”, literally “house,” refers to personal property. This person fails to manage his affairs competently and as a result he “inherits the wind”, which Whybray takes to mean that he has squandered his wealth and is reduced to poverty. Consequently he must become the “servant” or slave of a wise creditor because he cannot pay his debts.

Most modern translations favor the first view.

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 .