Translation commentary on Proverbs 13:18

This saying as well as verse 20 has instruction or wisdom as its theme, but verse 18 focuses on a particular social and economic situation.

“Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction”: This line says literally “Poverty and shame [to one] ignoring instruction.” Revised Standard Version “come to” is supplied to make the connection to “one ignoring instruction.” “Poverty” refers to a lack of the necessities of material life; while “disgrace” or dishonor is loss of social respect, being socially discredited or shamed. In 3.35 “honor” (Hebrew kavod, a term suggesting wealth) stands in contrast to “disgrace,” the same Hebrew term used in this verse. “Instruction” renders a term first used in 1.2, 3, and 7. In 12.1, which is a saying similar to this, the word rendered here as “instruction” is translated as “discipline.”

“Poverty”, the economic condition, and “disgrace”, the social disapproval, are said to result from ignoring, that is, paying no attention to or rejecting, the “instruction” or teaching of the wise. Many translations make “Poverty and disgrace” the consequence of ignoring instruction; for example, New English Bible “To refuse correction brings poverty and contempt,” and Bible en français courant “He who refuses to be taught will be poor and disgraced.” We may also say, for example, “If you reject the teachings of the wise, you will end up poor and ashamed.”

“But he who heeds reproof is honored”: For “heeds reproof” see its use in a similar expression in 1.23. “Honored” (see comment in line 1) contrasts with both “Poverty” and “disgrace” in line 1, especially where the word translated “honored” has the sense of possessing wealth. This line may be translated, for example, “but if you listen to advice, people will respect you.”

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 13:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 13:18:

  • Kupsabiny: “A person who does not like to be counselled, becomes poor and is shamed,
    and/but the one who likes/loves to be corrected, receives/gets respect.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Those who ignore correction
    will have to live in poverty and shame.
    But those who listen will be honored.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A man who does not want his behavior to-be-straightened will-become-poor and put-to-shame, but the one-who-wants- his behavior -to-be-straightened will-be-honored.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The one-who-rejects/dislikes advice, he will become-poor and be-shamed, but the one-who-receives advice, he will-be-honored.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Those who refuse to pay attention when others discipline/correct them will become poor and disgraced;
    people respect those who accept it when they are rebuked for their bad behavior.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 13:18

13:18

This proverb contrasts the results of ignoring discipline/correction with the results of heeding it. Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

18a
Poverty and shame come to *him who ignores discipline,

18b but whoever heeds correction is honored.

13:18a–b

Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline, but whoever heeds correction is honored: These parallel phrases contrast the result of ignoring correction with the result of heeding it. If a person refuses to accept criticism, he will become poor (his financial condition). He will also be shamed/disgraced (his social condition). If he accepts criticism, he will be honored. Another way to translate this is:

respected (Good News Translation)

The verb is honored contrasts with both Poverty and shame. This contrast implies that a respected person is also wealthy.

ignores discipline, but whoever heeds correction: A person who ignores discipline pays no attention or refuses to accept instruction, advice, rebuke, or discipline. The person who heeds correction accepts and learns from criticism or rebuke. No contrast is intended here between the meanings of discipline and correction. See the note on 12:1a–b, where the same two nouns occur.

Some ways to translate these parallel nouns are:

• Use different terms. For example:

ignores instruction…heeds reproof (New Revised Standard Version)

• Use the same term in both lines. For example:

refuses correction…accepts correction (New Century Version)
-or-
ignore criticism…accept criticism (New Living Translation (1996))

13:18a

Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “Poverty and shame ⌊one who⌋ ignores discipline.” English versions supply a verb to clarify that poverty and shame are the result that is caused by ignoring discipline. Two ways to express this relationship are:

• Put the result first. For example:

Poverty and shame befall the man who disregards correction (New American Bible)
-or-
Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction (English Standard Version)

• Put the cause first. For example:

To refuse correction brings poverty and humiliation (Revised English Bible)
-or-
A person who refuses correction will end up poor and disgraced (New Century Version)

You may use whatever order is more natural in your language.

© 2012, 2016, 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.