“The way of an eagle in the sky”: “The way” is the normal Hebrew word for “path,” “road,” or “journey,” but it is also used to refer to the way things are done or the course of someone’s life. Some commentators see “the way” as referring to the (invisible) track made by each of the things mentioned; but others take it to refer to the way the things move or act, and this seems to give a better sequence from the first three items to the final one. So Scott says here “How an eagle soars in the sky”; Contemporary English Version has “How eagles fly so high” and Good News Translation “an eagle flying in the sky.” These are all good models to follow.

“The way of a serpent on a rock”: Following the pattern of the previous line, Scott says “How a snake glides across a rock” and Good News Translation “a snake moving on a rock.” For “serpent” see 23.32.

“The way of a ship on the high seas”: “A ship” refers to a large boat that is able to sail on the ocean away from land. “On the high seas” translates a Hebrew idiom that is literally “in the heart of the sea.” The Revised Standard Version expression is an idiom in English for “out on the ocean” or “on the open sea.” Scott renders this line “How a ship moves over the sea” and Contemporary English Version “how ships sail the ocean.”

“The way of a man with a maiden”: “A maiden” refers to a mature young woman, either unmarried or recently married. A number of versions translate it as “girl,” while some say “woman.” This line is the focus or climax of the whole saying. It moves from examples of what happens in the natural world to something wonderful or mysterious in human affairs. Commentators are divided on the meaning of this expression. Some take it to mean “how a man and a woman fall in love”; see Good News Translation, for example, and Contemporary English Version “how . . . people fall in love.” Others take it to refer to sexual intercourse and “the procreation of a human being” (Toy). In many societies a literal rendering like that of Revised Standard Version, New International Version, and other versions will be understood in this sense, even if that is not intended by the translators. Scott makes this sense clearer with “how a man wins his way with a girl.” This is an area of language where people often do not say directly what they mean, but expect that their hearers will assume more than what is said from their knowledge of human behavior. This is a case where translators will need to be guided by their sense of what is natural and proper in their own language.

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 .

“She perceives that her merchandise is profitable”: The verb rendered “perceives” generally means “taste,” but here its meaning is figurative. It refers to what the housewife finds out by trial or from experience; in this sense most versions follow Revised Standard Version or say that she “sees” (New International Version, Revised English Bible) or “knows” (New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). The last part of the line is literally “that her trading gain is good.” The housewife recognizes that her work or her business activity is bringing profit; two expressions of this are “She sees that her trading is profitable” (New International Version) and “She knows that her affairs are going well” (New Jerusalem Bible).

“Her lamp does not go out at night”: A “lamp” is an oil-burning light similar to oil or kerosene lamps used in many parts of the world today. This line is easy to translate literally, and many versions follow Revised Standard Version. But this statement is really a figurative comment on the work of the housewife; so Good News Translation says “[she] works late into the night” and Contemporary English Version “she stays busy until late at night.”

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 .

“To understand a proverb and a figure”: Verse 6 picks up the term “understand” from its related noun in verse 5. “A proverb” is the singular form of the Hebrew word that is the title of the book. “Figure” translates a term whose meaning is not entirely certain. It may be related to a word meaning to “turn” or “bend.” In Gen 42.23 the word is used to refer to the interpreter Joseph used when he spoke to his brothers. In Isa 43.27 the word is used to refer to mediators, prophets, or spokesmen who spoke to the people for God. In Job 33.23 Elihu uses the term to indicate someone who mediates as an angel between God and people.

In many languages “to turn the words” is an idiomatic way of saying “interpret.” Some scholars understand this word to refer to an unclear saying that hints at or suggests something familiar. Modern versions use a variety of expressions; for example, New American Bible, Moffatt, New English Bible/Revised English Bible say “parables,” New Jerusalem Bible “obscure sayings,” and Good News Translation “hidden meanings of proverbs.” The Septuagint has “dark sayings.”

“The words of the wise”: The ancient teachers of the Wisdom school often expressed their thoughts in obscure sayings, which required the learner to figure out the sense. “Words” in this context refers not to individual words but to the teachings given by wise people or the ideas and thoughts wise people taught to others.

“And their riddles”: A “riddle” is a game of words in which a question or series of questions are asked. These questions contain obscure clues that invite the listener or reader to discover the hidden meaning. For example, “What is quiet when it is alive and talks when it is dead?”—answer: “a leaf.” “Riddles” here translates a Hebrew word that, according to Toy, comes from a verb meaning to “turn aside” and involves some kind of puzzling discourse. The term is used in Jdg 14.12-14, where Samson tells a riddle about a lion to the Philistines. In 1 Kgs 10.1 it is used in reference to the difficult questions the Queen of Sheba put to Solomon to test his wisdom. In Ezek 17.2 it is used to describe a symbolic account or parable to represent a historical event; and in Num 12.8 the Lord, punishing Aaron and Miriam for speaking against Moses, uses the term as a contrast to the clear and direct communication that the Lord used with Moses.

In some languages the term for a popular proverb may include riddles as well as folk tales and other kinds of sayings. It is not necessary that the translation express the strict sense of a “riddle,” but it is important that the term or phrase used should refer to a dark or hidden saying, that is, one that is purposefully obscure in meaning, or a discourse that challenges the listener’s understanding.

If verse 5 has been translated as a parenthesis (see above), the translation of verse 6 should retain the style of verses 2-4, showing that the proverbs of verse 1 are also for the purpose of teaching or instruction. So if the translation has used “you” in verses 2-4, it is advisable to do so also in verse 6; for example, “Also, so that you can understand the meaning of proverbs and other sayings as well as the teachings and riddles of the wise ones.”

On the other hand, if verse 5 is not regarded as a parenthesis, and verses 5 and 6 are translated as a unit separate from verses 2-4, then verse 6 should continue in the same style as verse 5.

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 .

Verses 6-8 are the basis for the affirmation made in verse 5. The reason the seeker of wisdom will understand the fear and knowledge of God is because all knowledge comes from God.

“For the Lord gives wisdom”: “The Lord gives wisdom” may also be expressed, for example, “all wisdom comes from the Lord” (Contemporary English Version), or “the Lord is the source of wisdom.” Another way of expressing this is “Only the Lord can make a person wise.”

“From his mouth come knowledge and understanding”: This line reproduces the sense of the first line in metaphorical language. We may translate, for example: “His words bring knowledge and understanding.” Or: “We know and understand things because of him.”

If it is necessary to do away with the parallelism, we may say, for example, “The Lord gives us wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.”

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 .

“Keep hold of instruction, do not let go”: “Keep hold” is another figure that means to dedicate yourself firmly to, be faithful to, or trust fully in. In languages in which “Keep hold of” has another meaning or only a literal sense, adjustments will be required in translation. The figurative expressions in this and the following line express the importance of commitment to the kind of education in these chapters. “Instruction” translates the same word as used in 1.2, 3. “Do not let go” translates a command meaning to relax, withdraw, give up. In some languages it is expressed figuratively; for example, “do not lose heart” or “do not drop your hands.”

“Guard her, for she is your life”: In verse 6 it is wisdom that will “guard you” (Good News Translation). In this verse the learner is told to “guard” or watch over “instruction”. The sense of this command is for the learner to attach himself to understanding, to keep it always near him, that is, as the guide to his life. “She is your life” equates “instruction” or “education” with “life”. In 3.2 wisdom gives long life and here it is the source of life for the learner. In some languages “she is your life” may be expressed, for example, “education is what makes you live,” “. . . gives you life,” or “. . . is the foundation of your life.”

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 .

Verses 18-20 say in literal and figurative language what verses 15-17 said in figurative language only.

“Let your fountain be blessed”: A “fountain” is not an artificial jet of water, as may be seen in city parks or gardens, but rather a spring of water flowing out of the ground. “Your fountain” refers to the man’s wife, who is here the source of his pleasure. The sense of “blessed” is seen in the parallel word in the second line “rejoice”. “Blessed” has the sense of joy or happiness. This happiness is to come from the man’s wife. Therefore Good News Translation has “be happy with your wife. . ..” If you find the imagery clear, you may follow a model like Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, “Blessed be your own fountain!” The meaning of this is made clear by the second line.

“Rejoice in the wife of your youth”: “Wife . . . youth” may call attention to the youthful age when the couple married. Good News Translation introduces verse 18 as a consequence of what is said in verses 15-17: “So be happy with. . ..” The happiness expressed here is satisfaction from the pleasure found in sexual relations with her. We may say, for example, “Enjoy relations with the woman you married when you both were young.”

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 .

“Do not men despise a thief if he steals”: As the Revised Standard Version footnote shows, this verse may be understood either as a question expecting a positive reply or as a negative statement. Revised Standard Version represents the former and New Revised Standard Version the latter: “Thieves are not despised who steal only to satisfy their appetite when they are hungry.” Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version put alternative translations in their footnotes.

“Men” is supplied by Revised Standard Version; the Hebrew has “Do they not despise.” “Despise”, a word meaning to show contempt or to consider as vile, is used in 1.7; 11.12; 13.13; and 14.21. “Thief . . . steals” refers to someone who steals or takes away objects he can carry without being seen.

“To satisfy his appetite when he is hungry”: This line makes clear that hunger is the thief’s motivation for stealing. “Appetite” translates the Hebrew “soul,” which expresses the idea of desire or want. In some languages “when he is hungry” must be expressed as “hungering for food.” Bible en français courant translates this verse “One does not scorn a thief when he has stolen to calm the hunger in his stomach.”

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 .