Translation commentary on Proverbs 1:17-18

Verse 17 is a single sentence saying and serves to introduce verse 18. The two verses are closely tied together as a contrast between birds that are not stupid and evildoers who are stupid. The opening word in Hebrew (“For” in Revised Standard Version) links these verses back to the warning in verse 15.

“In vain” translates an expression meaning “for no purpose,” “does no good,” “has no effect,” or “is useless.”

“Net is spread”: “Spread” renders a word that may mean spread out, or refer to the scattering of seed to bait a trap.

“In the sight” is literally “in the eyes of,” meaning “where the birds can see the trap.” “Any bird” is literally “possessor of wings”; it is a poetic expression like “winged creature” in English, and is used only here and in Eccl 10.20.

There are at least three ways to understand the meaning of verse 17 and the relation between verses 17 and 18. All are equally valid.

(1) Verse 17 can be understood to mean that birds won’t be caught in a trap they can see being set for them. And verse 18 means that evil people are setting their own trap and being caught in it. So the birds are wise and the sinners are blind and foolish.
(2) Even though the birds see the trap being baited for them, they pay no attention to the trap in order to get the bait (scattered seeds). The wicked in verse 18 are like the careless, hungry birds, so hungry for violence and wealth that they pay no attention to the trap they are setting for themselves.
(3) Verse 17 applies to the learner; that is, just as the bird avoids the trap it sees being set, so the learner will know how to avoid the dangers of life, and not be like the wicked people mentioned in verse 18.

Many modern versions favor the first understanding. For a model translation following this interpretation see Good News Translation. Another way of expressing this is: “Birds have the right thinking—if a bird sees a person setting a net, it won’t get caught.”

The Contemporary English Version footnote follows the third interpretation: “Be like a bird that won’t go for the bait, if it sees the trap.”

“But these men” refers to the wicked robbers described in verses 11-14 who tempt the learner to join them.

“Lie in wait” is the same expression as the one used in verse 11 where the wicked people lie in wait for other people’s blood. In verse 18 they prepare their own deaths.

There is a full parallelism in verse 18 in which the second line repeats the sense of the first line using other words. “Set an ambush” translates the same word used in verse 11. “For their own lives” translates “for their own souls [Hebrew nefesh]” meaning “for their own physical lives.”

Two ways in which we may render verse 18 are, for example:

  • People who rob others set the trap that will destroy them. They lay an ambush to take away their own lives.
  • Robbers are killed in their own traps. They are destroyed by their own ambushes.

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 .

complete verse (Proverbs 1:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 1:18:

  • Kupsabiny: “but those people set their traps, something that will destroy their lives.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “These [people] have been setting traps
    for themselves.
    These [people] have been trying
    to kill themselves.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The bird knows that he is going-to-be-trapped, but these wicked people do- not -know that they themselves will-be- the -victimized for their lying-in-wait to/for others. They wait to kill but they themselves will-be-killed.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “For these people, it’s-as-if they have snared themselves, their own lives are what they endanger.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:18

1:18

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

18a But they lie in wait for their own blood ;

18b
they ambush their own lives.

1:18a–b

But: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But expresses a contrast between the birds that are too smart to be caught (1:17) and the men who have less sense than birds. Consider how to express the contrast most effectively in your language.

they: This pronoun refers to the same men who are called “sinners” in 1:10.

lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives: In the Hebrew (also in the Berean Standard Bible), the same parallel verbs, lie in wait and ambush are used in 1:18 as in 1:11. This reinforces the irony of the criminals’ situation. They planned to ambush and kill others, but they end up being killed themselves. Some English versions, however, have used the “trap” metaphor because of the immediate contrast with 1:17. For example:

but people like that are setting a trap for themselves, a trap in which they will die (Good News Translation)

You will need to decide what terms will provide better contrast in your language. If you decide to use “net” or “trap,” be sure that your readers understand that this is not a literal trap. It refers to behavior that will result in the death of the people who do it. In some languages, it may be necessary to use one of the following options to make sure that the meaning is clear:

• Use a simile. For example:

But these men ⌊act like people who⌋ set traps and then fall into them themselves! They lie in wait to kill someone else, but they are the ones who die.

• Make the implied contrast with the birds explicit. For example:

But these people ⌊have less sense than birds, because it is as if they⌋ are ambushing themselves. They set traps in which they themselves will die.

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

But as for these people, they lie in wait to kill someone else. They ⌊do not realize that they⌋ will cause their own death by such actions.

General Comment on 1:18a–b

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

But these ⌊wicked⌋ men will die in the traps they themselves have set for other people.

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