“I give you good precepts”: This is the father’s or teacher’s claim to be heard. “Give” is used in the sense of teach or show. In the Hebrew “you” is plural to agree with “sons” or “children.” “Good” used with “precepts” refers to the positive effect these will have on the learner. “Precepts” translates a word used in 1.5, which refers to learning that is received or handed down from a teacher. In the active sense it means what is taught, and so Good News Translation has “what I am teaching you is good.” Bible en français courant says “I am transmitting to you sure knowledge.”

“Do not forsake my teaching”: “Forsake”, as used in 2.13, means to abandon, give up, or turn away from. “Teaching” translates the Hebrew torah, which was used in 1.8 in the sense of teaching or instruction. You may find it more natural to express this as a positive command; for example, “Remember my teaching” or “Keep in mind what I teach you.”

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 .