The Greek words that are translated in English as “wisdom” and “instruction” are translated in the German Luther translation (most versions) as Weisheit and Unterweisung, creating a sense of similarity between the two concepts with the repeated syllable “weis.”
Translation commentary on Proverbs 13:1
“A wise son hears his father’s instruction”: In the Hebrew of this line there is no verb. Revised Standard Version has supplied “hears” from line 2. See also Good News Translation “pay attention.” Most translations do something similar. However, the verbless clause that says literally “A wise son [is] a father’s instruction” may be understood in two ways:
(1) by supplying a verb as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation; or
(2) “A wise son [is] the result of his father’s instruction.”
Hebrew Old Testament Text Project accepts both of these. Traduction Œcuménique de la Bible follows the second with “A wise son reflects the education of his father,” meaning the education received from his father. Some interpreters get a verb by changing the word rendered “father” to one meaning “loves.” New Revised Standard Version says “A wise child loves discipline.”
“Son” in Hebrew is masculine singular, but the thought is not restricted to male children. See Good News Translation. Contemporary English Version has “children with good sense.” “Instruction” renders a word first used in 1.2. See there for comments. “Father” is made inclusive by Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version: “parents.” Most modern versions follow Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation by supplying some form of a “hearing” verb in line 1, and this is recommended by this Handbook. It is possible to restructure the line to say “If a child is wise, he will listen to the words of his father.”
“But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke”: For “scoffer” see 1.22. “Does not listen” means he pays no attention or does not accept. “Rebuke” means to scold, reprimand, or correct someone’s wrong behavior. See how “corrects a scoffer” was translated in 9.7.
In this verse “scoffer” contrasts with “wise son” (or, “wise child”). “Does not listen” contrasts with the verb supplied in line 1. “Rebuke” is parallel with “instruction”.
We may translate this verse, for example, “Wise children listen when their parents teach them, but children who think they know pay no attention when their parents correct their ways.”
“Wise children listen to their parents, arrogant ones can’t be corrected.”
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 13:1)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 13:1:
- Kupsabiny: “A wise son hears/listens to what his father teaches,
but the scoffer, (he) does not hear/listen to words of correction.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation) - Newari: “A wise son listens to what his father says.
But an arrogant son does not listen.” (Source: Newari Back Translation) - Hiligaynon: “A wise child listens if his father straightens his behavior, but a child who mocks does- not -listen when (he) is-rebuked.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “The thinking/reflective child, he listens to the advice of his father, but the one-characterized-by-mocking by-contrast, he is not capable-of-being-advised.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- English: “Children who are wise pay attention/heed it when their parents discipline/correct them;
but foolish children do not pay attention when someone rebukes them for their bad behavior.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 13:1
13:1
The underlined parallel parts and the parts in bold print contrast in meaning.
1a
A wise son heeds his father’s discipline,
1b but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
The parallel parts in italics are similar in meaning, but “rebuke” has a stronger and more specific meaning than “discipline.” This may imply that a wise son pays attention to any kind of instruction or correction, whereas a mocker ignores even a strong rebuke.
13:1a
A wise son heeds his father’s discipline: For the phrase A wise son, see the notes on 10:1b. In some languages, the way to specify a “son” in contrast to a daughter is to say “male child.” But it may be awkward or unnatural to refer to a son in this way. If that is true in your language, it is recommended that you use a general term for child. For example:
A wise child (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Wise children (Good News Translation)
heeds: In Hebrew, there is no verb in 13:1a. English versions supply a verb that contrasts with the parallel part in 13:1b. The Berean Standard Bible supplies the verb heeds. Some verbs that are used in other versions are:
loves (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
listens to (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
accepts (New Living Translation (2004))
father’s: Proverbs focuses on a father instructing his son. But this line does not imply that a wise son will not listen to his mother’s instruction (see, for example, 1:8 and 6:20). It also does not imply that a wise daughter will not pay attention to advice from her father and mother. If a literal translation of this line implies one of these wrong meanings, consider using a general term such as “parents.” See the versions quoted in the following note.
discipline: The Hebrew word musar, which the Berean Standard Bible translates here as discipline, refers to moral instruction or training. It usually involves some form of correction by someone in authority. This correction may range from warning or rebuke to punishment. Here the focus is probably on verbal instruction or correction.
Here are some ways to translate 13:1a in languages that use general terms for “son” and “father”:
Wise children take their parents’ advice (New Century Version)
-or-
Wise children pay attention when their parents correct them (Good News Translation)
13:1b
but a mocker: The word mocker refers to a person who scoffs at or makes fun of someone or something. A mocker is arrogant as well as scornful. But the focus of this word is on the disdainful way that a mocker treats other people. It is not mainly on the mocker’s feeling of pride.
The Hebrew text does not specify what these people mock. If it is necessary to make explicit what they mock, some options are:
someone who mocks ⌊other people⌋
-or-
a child who mocks ⌊his parents⌋
does not listen to rebuke: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rebuke is a stronger word than the parallel word “discipline” that is used in 13:1a. Here it refers to verbal rebuke or correction.
In some languages, it may be necessary to make explicit who does the rebuking. For example:
⌊his father’s⌋ rebuke
-or-
⌊anyone’s⌋ rebuke
The first example is a specific contrast with 13:1a. The second example is a more general contrast.
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