Translation commentary on Proverbs 13:15

“Good sense wins favor”: “Sense” translates the same word used in 12.8 and is qualified here by “Good”. “Good sense” is the equivalent of intelligence or sound judgment in decision-making. In 1 Sam 25.3 Abigail, the wife of Nabal (“fool”), is described in Hebrew by this expression. “Wins favor”, literally “gives grace,” means that such a person is favorably or positively regarded by others, or, as Contemporary English Version says, “praised.”

“But the way of the faithless is their ruin”: As the Revised Standard Version note shows, the Hebrew text has “enduring” in place of “their ruin”. It is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain a meaningful sentence from the Hebrew of this line, which is literally “the way of the treacherous is eternal.” It is also not possible to obtain a contrast between the two lines as the Hebrew text stands. “The way” refers to the conduct or behavior of the “faithless”, that is, the wicked. For “faithless” refer to “treacherous” in verse 2 since it is the same word in Hebrew. “Is their ruin” is based on the Septuagint and is followed by Good News Translation, New English Bible/Revised English Bible, and Contemporary English Version. On the other hand Hebrew Old Testament Text Project rates the Hebrew text as “B” and recommends translating the second line “The way of the wicked is hard.” Some versions that follow Hebrew Old Testament Text Project are New Jerusalem Bible “but the way of the treacherous is hard” and New International Version “but the way of the unfaithful is hard” (in its note New International Version has the alternative “unfaithful does not endure”). New Jewish Publication Society Version has “harsh” in its footnote. Translators may follow either the Hebrew Old Testament Text Project model or that of Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.

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 13:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 13:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “People like/love the words of a wise person,
    but he who is not straight/crooked, his ways are difficult.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Good-hearted people will be honored,
    but untrustworthy people
    are going toward destruction.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A man who has a good thinking is-respected. The unfaithful man is-leading towards destruction.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “A wise-person will-be honored, but the not trustworthy, they will go-towards destruction.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “People respect those who have good sense,
    but those who cannot be trusted are on the road to being ruined/destroyed (OR, will have a lot of difficulties/troubles).” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 13:15

13:15

The New Revised Standard Version has been used as the source line for 13:15b, since it follows the recommended text and interpretation. Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

15a
Good understanding wins favor,

15b but the way of the faithless is their ruin.

13:15a

Good understanding: In Hebrew, this phrase refers to the good sense, practical insight, or wise conduct that results from carefully evaluating a situation. A person who has understanding (Hebrew śekel) is able to understand the different aspects of a problem and to think of a helpful solution.

Good understanding is described here as if it were a person who wins favor with other people. In some languages, it may not be natural to use personification in this way. Another way to translate this is:

A person with good sense (New Living Translation (2004))

wins favor: This phrase indicates that other people have a positive or favorable opinion about someone who shows good judgment. Other ways to translate this are:

is respected (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
will be well liked (New Century Version)

13:15b

(New Revised Standard Version) but the way of the faithless is their ruin: There are differences in text and interpretation here:

(1) The LXX, Syriac, Vulgate, and Targum have “their ruin/calamity.” For example:

a treacherous person is headed for destruction (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
but the way of the treacherous is their ruin (English Standard Version)

(2) The Masoretic Text (MT) has a word that usually means “enduring/permanent,” with a positive connotation. Here the meaning of this word is uncertain. Most English versions that follow the MT translate this word as “hard.” For example:

but the way of the treacherous is hard (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with most scholars. As it stands, the Masoretic Text does not form a good parallel with 13:15a. Furthermore, there are no other examples in the OT where this word means “enduring” in the sense of an unchanging character trait.

the way of the faithless: For the word faithless, see the note on 11:3b. The phrase describes someone who acts treacherously or breaks an agreement. Some other ways to translate this word are:

the unfaithful (New International Version (2011))
-or-
those who can’t be trusted (Good News Translation)

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