Translation commentary on Proverbs 13:16

“In everything a prudent man acts with knowledge”: The Hebrew text has “Every man of sense acts with knowledge.” The Syriac and Vulgate versions understood this to be “The man of sense shows intelligence in all he does.” Revised Standard Version follows these. New Revised Standard Version has “The clever do all things intelligently.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends that “all” or “every” apply to the prudent person. For “a prudent man” see 12.16. “Acts with knowledge” means to do things intelligently, to behave wisely. In Proverbs the prudent or wise person conducts himself modestly and thinks before he acts.

“But a fool flaunts his folly”: “A fool” is the opposite of “a prudent man” or wise person. See 1.22 for a description of the “fool”. “Flaunts” renders a Hebrew verb meaning to display or spread out as a merchant does to exhibit his wares for buyers to see. See Good News Translation “advertise.” Bible en français courant has “but fools put their foolishness on display,” and New English Bible/Revised English Bible “but the stupid parade their folly.” We may also say, for example, “but fools make a show of their stupidity” or “but fools like to show off their foolishness.” For “folly” refer to 5.23.

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 13:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 13:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “An understanding person uses wisdom,
    but the foolish one exposes his foolishness.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Whatever he does,
    the wise person thinks before he acts.
    But fools just keep on boasting.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A man who knows how to-weigh what is right or wrong, thinks first before he does a thing, but a fool-one on-the-other-hand does not think, therefore he surely shows his foolishness.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The careful/circumspect person, he bases what he does on his intelligence/skill/wisdom, but the foolish, he shows in/by what he does his foolishness.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Those who have good sense always think carefully/wisely before they do something;
    foolish people show by what they say and do that they are foolish.” (Source: Translation for Translators)