“If a wise man has an argument with a fool”: In the Hebrew clause there is no equivalent of “If”. The two clauses of the saying are set side by side. For “wise man” see 1.5, and for “fool” see 1.7. “Has an argument” renders a verb that has that sense, but which can also mean to “go to court against.” Note Good News Translation “bring a lawsuit against.”

“The fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet”: Revised Standard Version has supplied “the fool” in this line. The Hebrew has “he,” which may refer to “the fool” in the first line, but may also refer to the “wise man” who tries in vain to deal with the foolish person. Most modern translations, however, understand “the fool” to be the one who “rages and laughs”. “Rages” renders a word that means “becomes excited.” “Laughs” does not mean the fool is being entertained but that he sneers, scorns, or makes light of a serious situation; see 1.26. “And there is no quiet” may refer to the impossibility of resolving the dispute with the fool. In this case we may say, for example, “and there is no satisfaction” or “and there is no quiet solution.” But some take the expression to mean that the fool keeps on with his sneering and will not shut up. So Revised English Bible has “unceasing abuse and derision”; or we may say, for example, “he will only speak with anger and abuse, and will not shut his mouth.”

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 .