happiness / joy

The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated in English as “joy” or “happiness” is translated in the Hausa Common Language Bible idiomatically as farin ciki or “white stomach.” In some cases, such as in Genesis 29:11, it is also added for emphatic purposes.

Other languages that use the same expression include Southern Birifor (pʋpɛl), Dera (popolok awo), Reshe (ɾipo ɾipuhã). (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

See also Seat of the Mind / Seat of Emotions, rejoiced greatly / celebrated, the Mossi translation of “righteous”, and joy.

joy

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The Greek, Latin, Ge’ez, and Hebrew that is translated with “joy” or “gladness” in English is translated with various strategies:

  • Baoulé: “a song in the stomach” (see also peace (inner peace))
  • Bambara: “the spirit is made sweet”
  • Kpelle: “sweet heart”
  • Tzeltal: “the good taste of one’s heart”
  • Uduk: “good to the stomach”
  • Mískito: “the liver is wide open” (“happily letting the pleasures flooding in upon it”) (source for this and above: Nida 1952)
  • Mairasi: “good liver” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
  • Noongar: koort-kwabba-djil or “heart very good” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Chicahuaxtla Triqui: “refreshed heart” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.).

See also Seat of the Mind for traditional views of “ways of knowing, thinking, and feeling,” happiness / joy, and exceeding joy.

Translation commentary on Proverbs 12:20

This saying is not easy to interpret and translators differ in their expression of it. It is necessary to examine both lines to clarify the problem.

“Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil”: “Deceit” translates the same word used in line 2 of verse 17; however, here the reference is general and not connected to a court witness. In this context “Deceit” appears to be the condition of the heart (the purpose or intention) of those who “devise evil” (plot or scheme to harm others).

“Those who plan good have joy”: This is not what we might expect to find in this line. After line 1 we expect something corresponding or contrasting to “Deceit in the heart”, such as “honesty in the heart,” that would express the intentions of good people. “Plan” translates a word meaning to advise or give counsel. “Good” translates the Hebrew word shalom, so “plan good” means to advise people to live in peace. “Have joy” means to be happy.

Some interpreters modify the Hebrew in order to get a clear contrast in line 2. However, others get an adequate contrast by interpreting “Deceit” in line 1 to refer to “self-deceit” and so Scott, for example, translates “Those who plot trouble are deceiving themselves, but men who counsel peace will be happy.” Note that Good News Translation follows the same interpretation, as do New English Bible/Revised English Bible: “Those who plot evil delude themselves, but there is joy for those who seek the common good.”

Going back to the previous interpretation, it is also possible to contrast “Deceit” in line 1 with “joy” in line 2 by translating, as New Jerusalem Bible does: “Deceit is in the heart of the schemer, joy with those who give counsels of peace.”

We may also say idiomatically in some languages, “People who plot to harm others have double hearts, but those who work for everyone’s good have glad livers.”

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 12:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 12:20:

  • Kupsabiny: “People who make conspiracy plots love to cover the eyes of people (make people not see),
    but happy is a person who brings peace.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The hearts of the wicked
    are always full of evil thoughts,
    but good thoughts will bring rejoicing.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Cheating is in the heart of a man who plans bad, but joy is in the heart of a man who plans good.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Tricks/Deception is what exists in the mind of one-who-plans evil, but happiness is what exists in/with one-who-causes-there-to-be harmony.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Those who plan to do what is evil are always wanting to deceive others,
    but things will go well for those who plan to do good things.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 12:20

12:20

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

20a
Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil,

20b but the counselors of peace have joy.

The contrast between 12:20a and 12:20b is not exact. The first line talks about the purpose of people who plot evil. Their purpose is deceit. The second line talks about the result in the lives of people who promote peace. The result is joy.

12:20a

Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil: There are two ways to interpret this statement:

(1) Those who plot evil intend to deceive others. For example:

Those who plan evil are full of lies (New Century Version)

(2) Those who plot evil deceive themselves. For example:

Those who plot evil delude themselves (Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). In Proverbs, the term Deceit most frequently refers to deceiving others (for example, see 12:5b, 12:17b).

devise evil: The word evil frequently refers to moral evil, but it may also refer to trouble or harm (see 12:21b). The phrase devise evil probably refers here to plans or schemes to harm someone else.

12:20b

the counselors of peace: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as counselors of peace refers to anyone who advises, promotes, or works toward peace. In this context, peace refers mainly to peaceful relationships or well-being among the people in a community. (See the note on 3:2b.)

joy: Other words that express the meaning of joy include “gladness” and “happiness.”

Another way to translate this line is:

but those who work for good will find happiness (Good News Translation)

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