wisdom ("word wisdom")

In the Tzeltal translation for the dialectal variant of Highland Tzeltal (Biblia Tzeltal yu’un Oxchuc soc Tenejapa, 2001) the translation team used three different words to translate the Hebrew term that is translated as “wisdom” in English. For the verses referenced here, it uses p’ijil c’op or “word wisdom.”

For the complete story and more background, please see wisdom (Proverbs).

See also buy wisdom.

knowledge ("word wisdom")

In the Tzeltal translation for the dialectal variant of Highland Tzeltal (Biblia Tzeltal yu’un Oxchuc soc Tenejapa, 2001) the translation team used three different words to translate the Hebrew term that is translated as “wisdom” in English. One of them is p’ijil c’op or “word wisdom” which is also used for “knowledge.”

For the complete story and more background, please see wisdom (Proverbs).

Translation commentary on Proverbs 10:14

“Wise men lay up knowledge”: “Wise men” translates the plural of the form used in 1.5 and 9.8-9. “Lay up” is the same verb as translated “store up” in 2.7. (But see below.) For “knowledge” see 1.4. “Lay up knowledge” must often be adjusted in translation because in many languages qualities such as “knowledge” cannot be stored like material objects. We may say, for example, “Wise people gather knowledge as someone gathers grain” or “Wise people never stop learning just like farmers who never stop storing up grain.”

The verb “lay up” may also be interpreted to mean to hide or hold back, according to Toy. In this case the sense is that wise men are cautious in their speech, perhaps holding back something they know in order to avoid trouble. If this understanding is accepted, the parallel in the second line is clear: the constant talk of fools causes destruction. Scott supports Toy in the first line: “Wise men keep their knowledge to themselves.”

“But the babbling of a fool brings ruin near”: “Babbling” translates the Hebrew “mouth” and refers to the words spoken by a foolish person. “A fool” is not to be taken as a demented or insane person but simply as a foolish person, someone who says things without thinking. See verse 8. “Brings ruin near” has the sense that “destruction is present” or “trouble is about to happen.”

We may translate the verse, for example, “If you are wise, you will keep some knowledge to yourself, but if you talk like a fool, you will soon be ruined.”

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 10:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 10:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “People who are understanding get a further dose of (the) word of wisdom,
    but the foolish one who scatters/throws around words, is close to be ruined/destroyed.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “People who have wisdom
    gather as much insight as they can.
    Fools call for total destruction.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The wise still adding more what they knew, but the foolish-ones always say words that can-destroy themselves in a short time/[lit. in not long].” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The wise, he puts-away in his mind what he is learning, but the words of one who is mindness, it is not long and (they) will-lead to his being-destroyed.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Wise people continue to learn all that they can,
    but when foolish people speak, they soon cause trouble.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 10:14

10:14

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

14a
The wise store up knowledge,

14b but the mouth of the fool invites destruction.

10:14a

The wise store up knowledge: This clause means that wise people accumulate knowledge in their minds or thoughts. It is implied that they do this in order to share it with others at an appropriate time. In contrast to 10:14b, it is also implied that they store up knowledge quietly, without talking unnecessarily.

knowledge: The word knowledge has the broadest meaning of the wisdom words. It can refer to knowing information, but usually it also refers to knowing how to live successfully. In Proverbs, it is almost synonymous with wisdom.

In some languages, knowledge may be more clearly expressed as a verb. For example:

you will learn all you can (Contemporary English Version)

10:14b

but the mouth of the fool invites destruction: The phrase the mouth of the fool is a figure of speech (metonymy). It represents the words/speech of a fool. For fool, see the note on 10:8b.

invites destruction: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “ruin near.” It means that disaster or trouble may happen soon and at any time. Some other ways to translate the meaning of this line are:

but foolish talk will soon destroy you (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
but when fools speak, trouble is not far off (Good News Translation)
-or-
when a fool speaks, ruin is imminent (Revised English Bible)

The Contemporary English Version makes explicit that the fool himself will be destroyed by what he says. But in Hebrew and other versions, the phrase invites destruction does not specify who will experience disaster. Most scholars think that the words of a fool create trouble both for himself and others. So if your language requires you to specify who will experience disaster, you should probably specify both the fool and other people.

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