SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 2020 – Page 45

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 9:15

9:15

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

15a calling out to those who pass by,

15b
who make their paths straight.

The Display will use the punctuation of the New International Version (2011) for 9:15b (a comma instead of a period).

9:15a–b

calling out to: This is the same verb that was used to describe what Wisdom’s servants did in 9:3b. It is a call of invitation, directed to people passing by.

those who pass by, who make their paths straight: These two parallel clauses describe people who happen to be walking past her house on their way to a different location and are “minding their own business” (Good News Translation).

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 10:29

10:29

This proverb contrasts the different relationships that the LORD has toward different groups of people. He is a refuge for those who are righteous, but he destroys those who are evil. The Revised English Bible has been used as the source line, because it follows the recommended interpretations.

29a
The Lord is a refuge for the blameless, (Revised English Bible)

29b but he brings destruction on evildoers. (Revised English Bible)

10:29a

(Revised English Bible) The Lord is a refuge for the blameless: This clause has one or more figures of speech. Scholars interpret the structure of this clause and the meaning of these figures of speech in many different ways. Here are the two main ways:

(1) The subject of this clause is the Lord . This clause is a metaphor that compares the Lord to a refuge for people who are blameless. The similarity is that the Lord and a refuge both protect people. For example:

The Lord is a stronghold to him whose way is upright (Revised Standard Version)

(2) The subject of this clause is “The way of the LORD.” This phrase is a metonymy that refers either to (a) the conduct or rule of the LORD or (b) the conduct that the LORD requires people to follow. The whole clause is a metaphor that compares “The way of the LORD” to “a refuge” for people who are “blameless.” With this interpretation, either (a) the LORD’s conduct/rule or (b) the conduct that the LORD requires people to follow are a refuge that protects people. For example:

The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless (English Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), which is in the Display. The phrase “the way of the LORD” occurs nowhere else in Proverbs. Throughout the OT, it is the LORD himself (not “the way of the LORD”) who is compared to a refuge.

(Revised English Bible) refuge: The word refuge refers to a fortress or “stronghold” (New Revised Standard Version). It is a place in which a person can take refuge. This word is used figuratively here to describe the LORD’s protection.

(Revised English Bible) blameless: This word refers to a person who has integrity. People like this live a consistently good life. They do nothing that is worthy of blame. See the note on this word in 2:7b for more translation advice.

Some ways to translate the metaphor in this clause are:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

The Lord is a stronghold to him whose way is upright (Revised Standard Version)

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

The LORD is like a place of refuge that protects people who have integrity

• Translate the meaning of the metaphor without using a figure of speech. For example:

The Lord protects the upright (New Living Translation (1996))

10:29b

(Revised English Bible) but he brings destruction on evildoers: In Hebrew, this line is more literally “but destruction to evildoers” (Revised Standard Version). Some other ways to translate this line are:

but he destroys anyone who does wrong (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
but will ruin those who do evil (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 11:29

11:29

Notice the parallelism in this verse:

29a
He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind,

29b and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

The one who “brings trouble on his house” in 11:29a is the same person as “the fool” in 11:29b. But being “servant to the wise” in 11:29b is an additional consequence to inheriting “only wind” in 11:29a.

11:29a

He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind: In Hebrew, this line is literally “one who troubles his house will inherit wind.”

brings trouble: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as brings trouble means to cause others to experience trouble, ruin, hardship, or harm.

his house: Most scholars agree that the word house here refers here to an entire household, including the servants and household possessions.

will inherit the wind: This phrase is a figurative expression. It means “will inherit nothing.”

There are two main ways to interpret the whole line:

(1) The one who causes his household to experience hardship or harm is the father. As a result of his poor management, he reduces the value of his family’s inheritance to nothing. With this interpretation, the word inherit is figurative. It does not involve anyone’s death. For example:

Whoever misgoverns a house inherits the wind (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) The one who causes his household to experience hardship or harm is the son. As a result of his foolish or shameful actions, he will be disinherited. When the father dies, he will literally inherit nothing. For example:

One who brings trouble on his family inherits the wind (Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with a majority of scholars. In the culture of that time, the father was normally in charge of a household, including the servants and property. It would be unusual to speak of a son troubling “his household.” Some other ways to translate this line are:

Whoever brings trouble to his family will be left with nothing but the wind. (New Century Version)
-or-
Those who bring trouble on their families will have nothing at the end. (Good News Translation)

If you use the word inherit, be sure that it does not imply that someone died.

11:29b

the fool will be servant to the wise of heart: The probable context of this line is that the foolish father wasted the family’s resources. In order to pay his debts, he will be forced to work as a servant or slave to his wiser creditors.

For fool, see fool 1 in the Glossary.

General Comment on 11:29a–b

Many English versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, and Good News Translation, translate the second line of this proverb as if it were unrelated to the first line. But all the commentaries used in preparing these Notes identify “the fool” of 11:29b with the one who “brings trouble on his house” in 11:29a. This would also fit the pattern of Hebrew parallelism. Some ways to make this connection clear are:

• Use a demonstrative pronoun such as “this” or “that” to describe the fool. For example:

Whoever ruins his household will own nothing but wind ⌊in the end⌋ . That fool will become a slave to a person who is wise.

• Reorder the parallel parts so that the subjects of both lines occur together. For example:

Foolish people who cause hardship to their families and servants will lose everything they own and become slaves of a wise person.

See also 11:29a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 13:2

13:2

The first line contrasts with the second line, but the contrast is not exact.

2a From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things,

2b but the unfaithful have a craving for violence.

The overall contrast is that a person receives benefit from the good things that he says to others. But treacherous people desire to do violent things to others.

13:2a

From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things: This clause is almost the same as 12:14a, where the Berean Standard Bible uses the expression “fruitful speech.” (See the notes there.) The main difference is that 12:14a has “is filled with” instead of enjoys. Both lines imply that a ⌊good⌋ person benefits from the good things that he says to others.

When you translate this line, you may or may not need to make explicit the implied information that the person is ⌊good⌋ . Translate in a way that is natural and makes the meaning clear in your language.

enjoys: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as enjoys is literally “eats.” This word should be understood figuratively to mean enjoys or “experiences.”

13:2b

but the desire of the faithless is violence: The meaning of this line is that treacherous people strongly desire to act violently against others.

desire: This word refers to a strong appetite or craving for something.

faithless: This word describes someone who acts treacherously or breaks an agreement (see the note on 2:22a–b, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “unfaithful”).

violence: This word refers to the actions of a person who is brutal and cruel. He uses physical force to hurt someone else. See the note on “violent” in 3:31a.

General Comment on 13:2a–b

These parallel lines both use words that can refer literally to eating food or to a desire for it. This creates an obvious word play in Hebrew, which may be lost in versions that translate only the figurative meaning. Some English versions have tried to use words related to eating in one or both lines. For example:

2b but those who are deceitful are hungry for violence (Good News Translation)
-or-
2a The fruit of the mouth provides a good meal, 2b but the soul of the treacherous feeds on violence (New Jerusalem Bible)

In some languages, it may be possible to use expressions like this that will more clearly show the parallel relationship between the two lines. But if literal expressions give the wrong meaning, you will probably need to translate the figurative meaning. For example:

2a People will be rewarded for what they say, 2b but those who can’t be trusted want only violence. (New Century Version)
-or-
2a You will be well rewarded for saying something kind, 2b but all some people think about is how to be cruel and mean. (Contemporary English Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 14:9

14:9

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

9a
Fools mock the making of amends,

9b but goodwill is found among the upright.

14:9a

Fools mock the making of amends: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the making of amends is a noun that usually means “guilt offering” or “guilt.” There are two main ways to interpret this line:

(1) Fools scorn the need to make a guilt or reparation offering for sin. For example:

Fools mock at the sacrifice for sin (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Fools mock at the guilt offering (English Standard Version)

See Leviticus 5:1–6 for a description of the reparation offering.

(2) Fools mock at guilt/sin. For example:

Foolish people don’t care if they sin (Good News Translation)
-or-
Stubborn fools make fun of guilt (God’s Word)

The Display follows interpretation (1), but you may follow either interpretation. Both are well supported.

If you follow interpretation (1), you may find it awkward to specify a “guilt offering.” If that is true in your language, you may use a phrase that refers instead to making amends. You do not need to specify an offering, since Proverbs does not elsewhere mention the Levitical offerings. For example:

Fools mock at reparation (NET Bible)
-or-
Fools are too arrogant to make amends (Revised English Bible)

Fools: In Hebrew, this word for Fools implies insolence and stubbornness.

14:9b

but goodwill is found among the upright: In Hebrew, this line is literally “between/among upright ⌊people⌋ ⌊is⌋ favor.” There are three ways to interpret who shows favor to whom:

(1) The upright show favor to each other. They make amends if they wrong each other. They also act in a way that results in mutual acceptance and goodwill. For example:

the upright know what reconciliation requires (Revised English Bible)

(2) God shows favor to the upright. He is pleased by their good conduct. For example:

but the upright enjoy God’s favor (New Revised Standard Version)

(3) Being an upright person involves forgiveness. For example:

but good people want to be forgiven (Good News Translation)

It is not clear whether the Good News Translation means “forgiven by God” or “forgiven by those they have wronged.” The God’s Word is similarly ambiguous.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most scholars. This interpretation provides a good parallel with 14:9a. The idea of mutual goodwill also fits better with the phrase “between/among the upright.”

goodwill: This word refers to acceptance, favor, or good relations.

upright: This word refers to people whose conduct is fair, honest, and straightforward. See the note on 11:3a.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 15:6

15:6

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

6a
The house of the righteous has great treasure,

6b but the income of the wicked is trouble.

These parallels are not exact. The main contrast is probably between the stable wealth of a righteous person and the profits gained by wicked people. These profits bring them only trouble.

15:6a

The house of the righteous has great treasure: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as treasure is a general term that refers to all kinds of wealth. It includes produce, possessions, money, and other valuable things. For example:

Great wealth is in the house of the righteous (New American Standard Bible)

15:6b

but the income of the wicked is trouble: There is a textual difference here:

(1) The Masoretic Text (MT) has: “In/With the income of the wicked is calamity/trouble.” This means that the wages or profit gained by the wicked will result in trouble ⌊for themselves and/or for others⌋ . For example:

the gains of the wicked bring trouble (Revised English Bible)

(2) The LXX has: “The fruits of the ungodly shall perish.” This means that the wages or profit gained by the wicked will be destroyed or lost. For example:

but those who are evil will lose what they have (Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with most versions and scholars. Option (2) provides a more exact contrast with 15:6a, but that is insufficient reason for not following the MT.

the income of the wicked: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as income can refer to crops/produce (as in 3:9). But here, it contrasts with “wealth” in 15:6a. So it probably refers to the income, profit, or benefit that the wicked gain from their activities.

is trouble: The Hebrew text (given in option 1) is ambiguous. The income of the wicked may cause trouble either to themselves or to other people.

If possible, you should translate in a way that allows either meaning, as in the Revised English Bible (quoted above). If that is not possible, you may specify both meanings. For example:

but the profits that a wicked person gains will cause disaster ⌊for him and also for others⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 16:5

16:5

This verse is closely connected with the themes of “the wicked” and the “day of disaster” in 16:4b. The first line mentions the proud as a specific group of wicked people. The second line emphasizes their certain punishment.

5a Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD;

5b be assured that he will not go unpunished.

16:5a

Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as proud in heart is literally “high of heart.” It describes the arrogance of people who consider themselves to be higher/greater than God and/or their fellowmen. For detestable, see the note on 11:1a.

16:5b

be assured that he will not go unpunished: This line is almost identical to 11:21a (see the note on 11:21a–b). As in 11:21a, the double negative probably emphasizes the opposite meaning. For example:

They will surely be punished. (New Century Version)

The implied person who punishes them is the LORD. In some languages, this information may need to be supplied. For example, the Good News Translation (referring back to the LORD) has:

he will never let them escape punishment

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 17:4

17:4

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

4a
A wicked man listens to evil lips ;

4b
a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.

The second line specifies what the first line means. “A liar” (17:4b) specifies a particular kind of “wicked man” (17:4a), and “destructive” (17:4b) further defines the meaning of “evil” in 17:4a.

17:4a–b

evil lips…a destructive tongue: As in other proverbs, lips and tongue are figures of speech that represent the words that a person says. The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a destructive tongue refers to malicious or cruel words. These words are intended to cause harm to others. They are associated with lies, so they are equivalent to slander or malicious gossip.

Some other ways to translate these figures of speech are:

evil words…cruel words (New Century Version)
-or-
gossip…slander (New Living Translation (2004))

General Comment on 17:4a–b

The parallel lines function together to describe one kind of person. They refer to a wicked person who tells lies. In some languages, it may be necessary to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts to make this meaning clear. For example:

Wicked liars listen eagerly to gossip and slander.

See also 17:4a–b (combined/reordered).

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 2020