“A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh”: “A tranquil mind” translates an expression that may mean “a healthy mind” (literally “heart”) or “a relaxed mind.” Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation understand it in the latter sense. “Flesh” in this line and “bones” in the next together make up the body or the whole person in Old Testament thinking. The verb “gives” in “gives life to the flesh” is supplied by Revised Standard Version. The thought is that a mind that is at peace results in a healthy body or, as Contemporary English Version says, “It’s healthy to be content.” New Jerusalem Bible has “The life of the body is a tranquil heart.”

“But passion makes the bones rot”: “Passion” translates the word used in 6.34 to refer to “jealousy” of the revengeful husband. Here the word may refer to “anger,” “jealousy,” “zeal,” or “ardor.” In any case this state of mind contrasts with the quiet peace of mind in line 1. It is a mind, heart, or “innermost” that is in turmoil and distress. Its effect on the body is to “make the bones rot”. In 12.4 this expression suggests a disease that weakens the body and leads to death. Some modern translations, like Good News Translation, say “like a cancer.”

In some languages it is not possible to speak of qualities like “A tranquil mind” and “passion” apart from the person who expresses them. Where this is the case, we must say something like the following: “If someone’s inside is at peace, then his body will be well. But if someone is jealous and angry all the time towards others, this behavior will be like a bad sickness that attacks his bones.”

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 .