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)

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 13:16

13:16

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

16a
Every prudent man acts with knowledge,

16b but a fool displays his folly.

13:16a

Every prudent man acts with knowledge: There are two ways to interpret the connection of the word Every :

(1) The natural meaning of the Hebrew text is that Every modifies “prudent man.” For example:

Anyone of discretion acts by the light of knowledge (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) The Syriac and Vulgate translations understand that Every modifies what a prudent man does. For example:

The clever do all things intelligently (New Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions and scholars.

Every prudent man: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as prudent man refers to someone who is shrewd, sensible, clever, or prudent. A person who is prudent is able to make clever plans to achieve his goals.

acts with knowledge: This phrase indicates that a sensible person acts only when he knows the relevant facts of a situation. In other words, he considers the circumstances before he acts.

Another way to translate 13:16a is:

Sensible people all think before they act

13:16b

but a fool: In Hebrew, this word for fool refers to someone who does what is stupid and wrong because he is mentally lazy and self-satisfied.

displays his folly: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as displays is literally “spreads out.” In this context, it is used figuratively. It may describe the action of the fool as if he were a seller in the marketplace. A seller publicly “spreads out” or “exposes” the things that he is selling. Similarly, the fool openly displays his own foolishness by the things that he says or does.

Some other ways to translate 13:16b are:

but fools show how foolish they are (New Century Version)
-or-
but fools display their foolishness ⌊by what they say and do⌋

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