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 12:1

This verse illustrates the compact structure of many of these ancient sayings as well as the way in which the second line carries the sense forward, strengthens it, and closes it with a punch word.

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge”: “Whoever loves” translates a masculine singular form meaning “the one loving.” “Discipline” renders the same word first used in Revised Standard Version in 1.2 and translated “instruction.” “Discipline” is the training in self-control that aims to produce moral and mental improvement in the learner. In some languages to “love discipline” is expressed as “being happy when someone corrects you” or “wanting someone to put you straight when you go wrong.” This makes a good contrast with the matching expression in line 2, “hates reproof”. For “knowledge” see the discussion of 1.4.

“But he who hates reproof is stupid” has a compressed form in Hebrew “but-one-hating correction stupid.” “Hates”, which contrasts with “loves” in the first line, means to feel dislike or hostility toward someone or something (see 1.22). “Reproof”, used first in 1.23, refers to correction or rebuke given to someone who is at fault. “Stupid” translates a term used only in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament. In Psa 73.22 it is used in parallel with Hebrew behemoth “beast.” It suggests the idea of a dumb animal, a brute.

If the translation of the verse is to be compressed in the Hebrew style, it may be possible to say, for example,”Love discipline and learn, reject it and be stupid.”

A rendering that reveals the contrasting parallelism is, for example, “If you love discipline, you will love knowledge, but if you hate correction, you will be stupid.”

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 12:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 12:1:

  • Kupsabiny: “A person who loves wisdom, loves to be counselled/corrected,
    but/and the one who does not love to be counselled, is foolish.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Whoever tries to correct [his] mistakes
    is intelligent.
    Whoever does not try to correct [his] mistakes is a fool.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A man who wants his behavior to be-straightened wants to become-wise, but a man who does not want to be-rebuked is stupid/stubborn.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The one who wants to become-wise/intelligent/skillful, he really-wants to be-advised, but the one who refuses/dislikes to be-taught, he is mindless (lit. has no thoughts/mind).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Those who want to know what is right to do want to be disciplined/corrected when they do what is wrong;
    it is foolish to not want to be corrected/told that what you did is wrong.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 12:1

12:1–28

Almost every verse in this chapter has contrastive parallelism. The contrast in these verses is mainly between the righteous and the wicked.

12:1

The parallel parts with bold print are similar in meaning. The other parallel parts contrast in meaning.

1a
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

1b but he who hates correction is stupid.

12:1a–b

loves discipline…hates correction: Someone who loves discipline strongly desires to be advised or rebuked. Someone who hates correction strongly dislikes being corrected or rebuked. It also includes the idea of rejecting correction or refusing to be corrected. Some other ways to translate these parallel phrases are:

A person who is willing to accept advice/rebuke…a person who hates to be rebuked/corrected
-or-
A person who truly appreciates it when he is disciplined/corrected…a person who does not listen when he is rebuked

discipline…correction: The word discipline refers here to moral instruction, advice, or reproof. The word correction refers to verbal correction or rebuke. No contrast is intended between the meanings of discipline and correction. In fact, versions such as the Revised English Bible and New American Bible have “correction” in 12:1a and “reproof” in 12:1b.

For more information on these words, see discipline and rebuke 1 in the Glossary.

12:1a

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “⌊one who⌋ loves discipline ⌊one who⌋ loves knowledge.” Both phrases are identical in form. There are two ways to interpret the subject of this clause:

(1) “Whoever loves discipline ” is the subject. For example:

Whoever loves discipline loves to learn (God’s Word)
-or-
He who loves correction loves knowledge (Revised English Bible)

(2) “Whoever loves knowledge ” is the subject. For example:

Anyone who loves learning accepts correction (New Century Version)
-or-
Any who love knowledge want to be told when they are wrong. (Good News Translation)

The Display follows interpretation (1), but you may follow either interpretation. More versions follow interpretation (1). More scholars support interpretation (2). Both interpretations provide a good contrast with 12:1b.

knowledge: in this context, knowledge means almost the same thing as “wisdom.” It refers primarily to the moral lessons that a person learns. It does not refer to what a person learns in school.

12:1b

stupid: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as stupid refers to someone who lacks intelligence or is senseless. In Psalm 73:22, the stupid person is compared to a “brute beast.” So this word may imply that the stupid person is like an animal that is not able to think rationally. Some other ways to translate this word are:

does not know how to think
-or-
like a dumb animal

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