Translation commentary on Proverbs 13:14

This saying is closely similar in meaning to verse 13.

“The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life”: “The teaching of the wise” is the torah, which as in 1.8 and throughout Proverbs means “instruction,” the instruction given by those who are wise, or what the wise teach to others. “Fountain” renders a term that refers commonly to a source of flowing water and may be expressed as “spring.” For comments on “fountain of life” see 10.11. This line may be rendered as in Revised Standard Version or Good News Translation. However, it may be necessary to adjust it to say, for example, “What the wise ones teach is like a fountain of life” or “What the wise teach gives life like a fountain gives water.”

“That one may avoid the snares of death”: Line 2 does not parallel line 1 nor does it contrast with it. Rather, it extends it and states its purpose. “That one may avoid” means “so you may escape from” or “in order to stay away from.” “Snares of death” is a figurative expression that pictures death as snaring or trapping people. In some languages it is possible to personify death in a different way; for example, “. . . in order to escape being caught by death” or “. . . to prevent death from taking hold of you.” If neither the figure nor the personification can be used, it may be necessary to say, for example, “in order to keep you from dying.”

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 13:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 13:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “The teaching of a wise man brings life,
    and rescues a person who could have died.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The advice that wise people give
    is like a fountain of life.
    By it one will be able to come
    out of any kind of suffering.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The teaching of the wise can-make-good and can-prolong your (sing.) life, and can-keep- you (sing.) -away from death.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “What a wise-person teaches is like a spring that gives life. It rescues a person from what is like a trap that kills.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “What wise people teach is like a fountain whose water gives life ;
    what they teach you will help you to escape when something dangerous is threatening to kill you.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

law

The Greek, Hebrew, and Ge’ez that is translated in English as “Law” or “law” is translated in Mairasi as oro nasinggiei or “prohibited things” (source: Enggavoter 2004) and in Noongar with a capitalized form of the term for “words” (Warrinya) (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

In Yucateco the phrase that is used for “law” is “ordered-word” (for “commandment,” it is “spoken-word”) (source: Nida 1947, p. 198) and in Central Tarahumara it is “writing-command.” (Source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)

In a 1922 translation into Chagatai, a precursor language of both Uzbek and Uighur, it is translated with the Arabic loan word shari’at (شريعت), originally meaning “(Islamic) law (Shari’a).” (Source: F. Erbay and F.N. Küçükballı in Acta Theologica 2025 45/2, p. 133ff. )

See also teaching / law (of God) (Japanese honorifics).

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 13:14

13:14

In this verse, line 13:14b adds to the thought of 13:14a. There are no parallel pairs.

14a The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,

14b turning one from the snares of death.

13:14a

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life: This clause is a metaphor. The teaching of the wise is compared to a fountain of flowing water. Here is a way to express the similarity between them:

The teaching of the wise is a life-giving fountain (New Jerusalem Bible)

The teaching of the wise: This phrase refers to what wise people teach.

a fountain of life: For the meaning of this phrase, see the note on 10:11a. The word that most versions translate as fountain refers to a spring or other source of flowing water. It does not refer to a decorative “fountain” that sprays water into the air, such as those found in parks.

In some languages, a literal translation of this metaphor may be difficult to understand. Another way to translate it is to change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

The advice of wise people is like a spring that gives life.
-or-
What wise people teach gives life as a spring gives water.

life: As in 4:13b, the word life implies a better or longer life.

13:14b

turning one from the snares of death: This phrase expresses the purpose and result of the teaching of the wise. It also explains how the teaching of the wise is like a fountain of life. Their teaching gives life by helping people to avoid death. You may make one of these relationships explicit. For example:

The purpose of their advice is to help people escape from life-threatening dangers.
-or-
Obeying this teaching results in a person avoiding deadly traps.

You may also leave this relationship implied. For example:

The person who obeys these teachings will avoid dangerous situations in which he might be killed.

See also the Good News Translation and New Living Translation (2004), quoted below.

snares of death: This phrase is probably a complex figure of speech. In this figure of speech, death is personified. It is compared to a hunter who sets traps in order to catch and kill people. Some ways to translate this figure of speech are:

• Keep the figurative word snares, but do not personify death. For example:

that helps you escape all deadly traps (Contemporary English Version)

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

they will help you escape when your life is in danger (Good News Translation)
-or-
They will help a person to avoid death.

It is implied that a person who avoids death is one who follows the teachings of the wise. Some versions make this implied information explicit. For example:

those who accept it avoid the snares of death (New Living Translation (2004))

You will need to decide whether or not to make this information explicit in your language.

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