6:22

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

22a
When you walk, they will guide you ;

22b
when you lie down, they will watch over you ;

22c
when you awake, they will speak to you.

In this verse, the parents’ teachings are personified as a constant guide, guardian, and adviser for the young man.

6:22a

When you walk: In this context, the clause When you walk means to go about from place to place while doing one’s daily tasks. It does not mean “walk” in contrast to some other way of moving, nor is the meaning limited to “when you travel” (Good News Translation). The meaning is better expressed by:

while you are active (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
during the day

they will guide you: The parents’ instruction is described as a guide who walks ahead of the young man to show him the right path to take.

6:22b

when you lie down: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as lie down means to lie down in order to go to sleep. The Good News Translation uses neither of these verbs. It expresses the same meaning by focusing on the time when most people sleep. It has:

at night

they will watch over you: Parental teaching is personified as a night watchman or guard who protects people from harm or danger.

6:22c

when you awake, they will speak to you: The phrase speak to you refers to advice, not to mere conversation. When the young man wakes up in the morning, the lessons he has learned from his parents will be with him like a companion to advise him.

General Comment on 6:22a–c

You are encouraged to use personification if possible, but if it is not natural in your language, here are some other options:

• Use similes. For example:

As you go about your daily activities, your parents’ teaching will be like a guide who shows you the right path to take. At night their teaching will be like a guard who protects you from danger. And when you wake up again in the morning, their words will still be in your mind, like a constant companion who offers you good advice.

• If figurative language is not possible, translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

If you do this, you will have a good basis for making decisions as you go from place to place during the day. Following their instruction will also protect you from things that might harm you as you sleep. And when you wake up again, their words will still be there in your mind as a source of good advice.

© 2012, 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

7:19

In this verse, the second line adds more information that clarifies the meaning of the first line.

19a For my husband is not at home;

19b he has gone on a long journey.

7:19a-b

For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey: This verse begins with a word that the Berean Standard Bible and New Revised Standard Version translate as For. This word introduces the reason why the young man should accept the woman’s invitation in 7:18. The New International Version and Good News Translation leave this word implicit. Introduce this reason in a natural way in your language.

my husband: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible and most English versions translate as my husband is literally “the man.” This is not the usual expression that women used for their husbands. A number of scholars feel that it may indicate an attitude of alienation or contempt. If your language has an expression that would indicate this kind of attitude, you may use it here.

© 2012, 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

8:24

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

24a
When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth,

24b
when no springs were overflowing with water.

8:24a–b

When there were no watery depths…when no springs were overflowing with water: These clauses both specify the time when Wisdom was given birth. It was when there were still no watery depths (literally, “depths,” as in the New Revised Standard Version) or springs. In other words, it was before “oceans” and “springs” were created. The springs are described as overflowing with water. Choose an expression in your language that refers to plentiful or abundant water.

8:24a

I was brought forth: This clause is a figurative way to indicate that the LORD brought Wisdom into existence. Many English versions, such as the New Jerusalem Bible, translate this as:

I was born (New Jerusalem Bible)

The same verb is repeated in 8:25 for the sake of emphasis. You are encouraged to use the same expression in both verses if such repetition will also convey emphasis in your language.

The clause I was brought forth is passive. If stative or passive clauses are not natural in your language, you may need to use an active clause. For example:

the LORD gave birth to me

In languages where such an expression would be understood as some kind of literal birth, it may be clearer to translate this as:

the LORD created me
-or-
the LORD caused me to exist

General Comment on 8:24a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. See the Display for 8:24a–b (combined/reordered).

© 2012, 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

10:2

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

2a
Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing,

2b but righteousness brings deliverance from death.

This proverb states a general principle. In some languages, it may be more natural to talk about “a person” or “people” who gain wealth dishonestly or who are righteous. For example:

A person who becomes rich dishonestly will not benefit from his wealth, but a righteous person will be rescued from death.

In other languages, it may be more natural to use a pronoun such as “you” or “we.” For example:

If you(sing/plur) get rich as a result of doing what is wrong, your(sing/plur) wealth will not benefit you(sing/plur).
-or-
If we(dual/incl) get rich as a result of doing what is wrong, our(dual/incl) wealth will not benefit us(dual/incl).

For this kind of proverb, the meaning lines in the Display will often give only one pronoun choice, for example, “you(sing) ” or “we(incl.).” Use a form in your language that is natural for proverbs that state a general principle. Also see the translation advice on the use of “if” clauses in the General Comment on 1:7a–b.

10:2a

Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing: The phrase Ill-gotten treasures refers to any wealth that a person has obtained wrongly or illegally. The phrase profit nothing does not refer to the actual monetary value of the wealth. It refers to the lasting benefit that a person will get from it. Some other ways to translate this line are:

What you gain by doing evil won’t help you at all (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Riches that a person gets by doing wrong have no lasting value
-or-
No good comes of ill-gotten wealth (Revised English Bible)

10:2b

but righteousness brings deliverance from death: This identical clause is found in 11:4b. In this clause, righteousness is personified. It is described as someone who performs an action.

The clause means that a person who does what is right will be rescued from death. It is implied that the LORD is the one who rescues the person. In some languages, this may need to be made explicit. For example:

but as for the person who does what is right, ⌊the LORD⌋ will save him from death

righteousness: In Hebrew, this word refers here to right or just conduct according to God’s law. See the note on “righteousness” in 8:18b.

brings deliverance from death: In this context, brings deliverance from death probably indicates that a person will be spared/rescued from a premature death. But it may also indicate that he will be given life after death. If possible, you should translate in such a way that your readers can understand either interpretation.

© 2012, 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

13:7

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

7a One pretends to be rich, but has nothing ;

7b another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

This proverb refers to people who give false impressions about their wealth or poverty. It teaches that a person’s true situation may be quite different from what it seems to be. So people should not be deceived by outward appearances or circumstances.

13:7a–b

One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth: The phrases has nothing and has great wealth are examples of hyperbole (deliberate exaggeration for the sake of emphasis).

Verse 13:7a means that some people pretend to be rich, but actually have very little. They are actually poor. It does not mean that they literally own nothing. Verse 13:7b means that some people pretend to be poor, but actually they are rich.

In some languages, a literal translation of these hyperboles may express the wrong meaning. Another way to translate the verse without these figures of speech is:

Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor. (New Living Translation (2004))

Notice that the New Living Translation (2004) also changes the word order within the two clauses. You should use whatever order is more natural in your language.

Many languages have idioms for people who are rich and people who are poor. You may be able to use such idioms to add vividness or emphasis to this proverb, especially if you decide not to use hyperbole.

© 2012, 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

14:14

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

14a
The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways,

14b but a good man is rewarded for his ways.

In Hebrew, the second line has no verb, so there is no actual contrast in the words that are used. But the context clearly implies that the “backslider in heart” and the “good man” will experience different consequences for their actions.

14:14a

The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as backslider in heart refers to a person who has turned away from following the LORD or from following the right way. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

The faithless (New International Version)
-or-
Renegades (Revised English Bible)
-or-
People who turn away from the LORD

receives the fill of his own ways: The Hebrew verb that is used here is passive, literally “will be filled.” Some English versions translate it with a passive verb. For example:

will be fully repaid for their ways (New International Version)

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

get what they deserve (Good News Translation)
-or-
suffer the consequences of what they have done
-or-
be punished for their deeds

14:14b

but a good man is rewarded for his ways: Many English versions begin this verse part with the word “and.” However, if you use a verb with an undesirable meaning, such as “punished,” in 14:14a, it may be more natural to begin 14:14b with but, as the Berean Standard Bible does. Connect these lines in a way that naturally expresses in your language the relationship between them.

General Comment on 14:14a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. See 14:14a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

© 2012, 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.