SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 2020

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:24

1:24–27

In the four lines of 1:24–25, Wisdom gives four parallel reasons for the consequences in 1:26–27. In versions like the Berean Standard Bible, New International Version or the New Revised Standard Version, these verses form a single long sentence of the following form:

Since/Because you did A and B, and since/because you did C and D, I will do X and Y.

In some languages, the reason-consequence relationship may need to be expressed in shorter sentences. For example, the New Century Version expresses this relationship as follows:

You did A; you did B. You did C and D. So I will do X and Y.

It is clear from the context that Wisdom’s audience has refused her invitation repeatedly over a long period of time. In some languages, this may need to be made explicit through reduplication of the verbs or in some other way.

1:24

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

24a Because you refused my call,

24b and no one took my outstretched hand,

1:24a–b

my call…my outstretched hand: The meaning of the gesture my outstretched hand is parallel to the words my call in 1:24a. Both parallel parts refer to Wisdom’s invitation for people to come. In some languages, this gesture may not be understood correctly. Some other ways to translate the gesture are:

• Translate the gesture and make the meaning explicit. For example:

I reached out my hand to invite you.

• Translate the meaning without the gesture. For example:

I have been…inviting you to come (Good News Translation)

You will need to decide which translation option expresses the meaning most effectively in your language.

1:24b

hand: In Hebrew, the word hand includes everything from the elbow to the fingertips.

General Comment on 1:24a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts of this verse. For example:

You completely ignored me and refused to listen (Contemporary English Version)

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 3:1

Section 3:1–12

Third lesson: Humbly trust in the LORD

This lesson consists of a series of commands. Each set of parallel commands is followed by a promised result, except for 3:12, which gives a reason for the command.

Another heading for this section is:

Trusting in the Lord (New Living Translation (2004))

Paragraph 3:1–4

3:1

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

1a My son, do not forget my teaching,

1b but let your heart keep my commandments;

3:1a–b

do not forget…let your heart keep: These commands are negative and positive ways to say the same thing—the son should remember and heed the instructions of the father. The author used negative and positive commands in this way to add emphasis.

3:1a

My son: This same phrase occurs in 1:8a.

do not forget my teaching: The clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as do not forget my teaching is a command to not intentionally forget, ignore, or reject the father’s teaching. This is the same Hebrew verb as used in 2:17b. See the note there. Other ways to translate this command are:

don’t forget what I teach you (Good News Translation)
-or-
do not turn away from my teaching

3:1b

let your heart keep my commandments: In Hebrew, this command indicates that the son should remember his father’s commandments. It also implies that the son should pay attention to these commandments and obey them. Other ways to translate this command are:

Always remember what I tell you to do. (Good News Translation)
-or-
keep my commands in mind (God’s Word)

See the note on “my commands” in 2:1b.

your heart: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as heart refers here mainly to a person’s thoughts. In your language it may be necessary to use a different expression, such as “mind” or “thoughts” or “liver,” to refer to thinking or remembering.

General Comment on 3:1a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel terms “teaching” and “commandments.” For example:

1a My child, remember my teachings and instructions

1b and obey them completely. (Contemporary English Version)

In some languages, it may be more natural to give the positive command before the negative command. For example:

1a My child, always remember and obey my teachings and commands.

1b Do not ignore them.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 3:33

3:33

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

33a
The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,

33b but He blesses the home of the righteous.

3:33a–b

The curse of the LORD…He blesses: The curse of the LORD refers to bad things that the LORD causes to happen. The parallel phrase He blesses refers to the good things that he causes to happen. These parallel phrases do not refer primarily to words of blessing or cursing that the LORD speaks.

the house of the wicked…the home of the righteous: The Hebrew word bayit, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as house, can be used literally (a dwelling or building) or figuratively (the people who live in the house). It is recommended that you use the literal meaning “house” here, along with all English versions.

Another factor in favor of the literal meaning is that the parallel word naweh, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as home in 3:33b, is never used figuratively. Usually it refers specifically to pastureland or to a shepherd’s hut, but here it may simply be a variant of “house” in 3:33a.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 5:3

5:3

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

3a Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey

3b and her speech is smoother than oil,

5:3a–b

the lips of the forbidden woman…her speech: There are two ways to interpret the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as lips :

(1) “Lips” is a figure of speech (metonymy) that refers to the words of an adulteress. For example:

The words of another man’s wife may seem sweet as honey (New Century Version)

(2) “Lips” refers to the literal lips of an adulteress. For example:

The lips of another man’s wife may be as sweet as honey (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it better fits the parallel expression in 5:3b. It also better fits the preceding context, which deals with the father’s words and the son’s words.

drip honey…smoother than oil: These are parallel metaphors. The first metaphor compares the words of the unfaithful wife to honey that falls drop by drop from the honeycomb. The second metaphor compares her words to olive oil, which was used both for rubbing on the skin and in cooking.

The Contemporary English Version expresses the point of comparison of both of these figures of speech:

The words of an immoral woman may be as sweet as honey and as smooth as olive oil. (Contemporary English Version)

In the Hebrew language, these metaphors both refer to flattering, seductive words. In some languages, “sweet” and “smooth” are not used to describe words, or they may have the wrong meaning. If that is true in your language, you have several options:

• Make explicit a point of comparison that fits with words or speech. For example:

Her words are ⌊persuasive and flattering⌋ like the sweetest honey or like smooth oil.

• Use a different figure of speech from your language that emphasizes the nature of flattering words.

• State the meaning directly. For example:

The words of an adulteress are delightfully tempting and flattering.

5:3a

Though: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Though is translated as “For” in most English versions. This word introduces the reason that the young man should make careful decisions. It is because the words of the adulteress are enticing. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this connection more explicit. For example:

⌊You need to be careful⌋ because…

forbidden woman: See the note on 2:16a. This woman was “immoral” (Contemporary English Version), and she may have been a prostitute. But it is clear from the following verses that she was “another man’s wife” (Good News Translation).

drip honey: In some languages, it may be awkward to make explicit that this phrase refers to honey that drips from a honeycomb. If that is true in your language, you may use a more general expression. For example:

as sweet as honey (Good News Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 6:12

Paragraph 6:12–15

The first two terms in 6:12a are synonymously parallel. They identify the kind of person that is described in this paragraph. The next six terms or phrases in 6:12b–14b are also parallel. They describe the behavior of this person in more detail. The paragraph concludes in 6:15 with a description of his punishment.

6:12a

A worthless person, a wicked man: These terms are parallel. They describe the same person. The term worthless person refers to a person who is both wicked and worthless. The second term (literally “man of badness” in Hebrew) refers to a person who is evil. Together these two terms describe a type of person who is worthless and wicked. People like this are described in more detail in the following verses. One way to introduce these verses is:

Here is a description of worthless and wicked people: (New Living Translation (1996))

6:12b–14b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning.

12b
walks with a perverse mouth,

13a
winking his eyes,

13b
speaking with his feet,

13c and pointing with his fingers.

14a
With deceit in his heart he devises evil ;

14b he continually sows discord.

6:12b

walks with a perverse mouth: This expression indicates that wherever these people go, they tell lies and speak deceitfully. Other ways to translate this expression are:

go around telling lies (Good News Translation)
-or-
they are constant liars (New Living Translation (2004))

Also see 4:24a–b. The same Hebrew expression is translated there as “perverse speech.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 7:9

7:9

This verse has two parallel lines that are similar in meaning:

9a
at twilight, as the day was fading

9b
into the dark of night.

7:9a–b

at twilight, as the day was fading into the dark of the night: This verse gives the time setting of the events in this story. The phrases that the Berean Standard Bible translates as at twilight, as the day was fading refer to evening/dusk. The parallel term into the dark of the night probably refers to when it is already dark. These terms function together to describe a single period of time. This can be expressed as:

in the evening after it was dark (Good News Translation)
-or-
It was late in the evening, sometime after dark (Contemporary English Version)

Try to give this information in a way that is natural in your language. (See the General Comment that follows.)

General Comment on 7:6–9

In some languages, the whole setting is normally described at the beginning of a story. If that is true in your language, you have a number of options:

• Instead of making explicit a general word like “once” or “one day” in 7:6, you can make the time explicit from the context of 7:9. For example:

One night, when I was looking out…

Verse 9 can then add other details, such as “it was already dark.” This solution would avoid reordering verses, but it may be awkward in some languages.

• Reorder the verses by putting the content of verse 9 before verse 6. For example:

9 One evening, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in, 6 I was at the window…

The verse numbering would then read “6–9.” In general, renumbering involving this many verses is not recommended, but if it is acceptable to your readers, this may provide the most natural solution.

• Translate verse 8 so that 8b precedes 8a and reword 8a as a time phrase. For example:

He was walking deliberately toward the corner where a woman who committed adultery lived. As he approached her house…

See the second meaning line in the Display for 7:8a–b (combined/reordered). This solution avoids verse renumbering.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 8:14

8:14–17

In these verses, the Hebrew pronouns that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “mine,” “I,” and “me” occur in an emphatic position. In some languages, this emphasis may be expressed by saying “It is I who…” or “I am the one who….” For example, a translation of 8:14 may say:

I am the one who gives good advice so that people are able to make successful plans. I also am the source of intelligence and power.

8:14

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

14a
Counsel and sound judgment are mine ;

14b
I have insight and strength.

8:14a–b

are mine; I have: In this verse and in 8:15, Wisdom claims to possess the qualities or abilities that rulers need in order to govern well. These verses imply that Wisdom not only has these qualities herself, but that she is the one who provides them to rulers. In some languages, it may be helpful to make this explicit. For example:

From me come advice and ability. (Revised English Bible)

8:14a

Counsel: The word Counsel is a general word meaning “advice,” but in this context, it refers mainly to political and military advice. It also indicates the ability to think about a situation and make good plans. (Notice the Good News Translation translation: “I make plans.”) So it has a very similar meaning to “sound judgment.”

sound judgment: This second term (tušiyyah in Hebrew) means “competence” in this context. It describes someone who is able to think clearly and practically to decide what action should be taken in a particular situation.

8:14b

I have insight and strength: The word insight means “intelligence.”

The word strength refers to political or military power.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 9:10

9:10

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

10a
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,

10b and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

9:10a

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: This clause is identical to 1:7a except that 1:7a has “knowledge” instead of wisdom. Also, a different but synonymous Hebrew word is used for beginning.

9:10b

and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding: The relationship between knowledge of the Holy One and understanding may be expressed in various ways:

To have understanding, you must know the Holy God. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
If you know the Holy One, you have understanding. (Good News Translation)
-or-
Understanding begins with knowing the Holy One. (New Century Version)
-or-
Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding. (New Living Translation (1996))

Choose a way that clearly and naturally expresses the meaning in your language.

knowledge of the Holy One: This phrase refers to people knowing God, not to what God knows. For the similar phrase “knowledge of God,” see the note on 2:5a–b.

the Holy One: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as the Holy One is plural. Usually it refers to righteous people or to heavenly beings. However, in this verse, it clearly refers to God, because of the parallel with the first line.

In this context, the phrase the Holy One refers to God as a divine being. He is sacred and is essentially different from everything that he has created. He is perfect in every way and is completely pure and sinless. Because of these qualities, he is worthy of awe. In some languages, there may be an idiom to describe this.

Some ways to translate the Holy One in this context are:

the Holy God (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the one who is totally pure/good
-or-
the one who is worthy of all worship/awe
-or-
the perfect one

General Comment on 9:10a–b

In this verse, the parallel terms “the LORD” and “the Holy One” refer to the same God. In some languages, using these two terms may imply that two different Gods are being referred to. If that is true in your language, there are at least two options:

• Use a word like “him” or “this” in 9:10b that clearly refers back to the LORD in 9:10a. For example:

10b…and if a person knows him, the Holy God, he will have understanding.
-or-
10b…and if a person knows this God, who is perfectly pure, he will have understanding.

• Combine and/or reorder the parallel lines. For example:

If you want to become wise and have the ability to think clearly, you must first know the LORD, the holy God. You must also respect and obey him.

See also 9:10a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 2020

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:24

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 3:1

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 3:33

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 5:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 6:12

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 7:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 8:14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 9:10

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