Translation commentary on Proverbs 1:32

Verses 32-33 serve as the conclusion to chapter 1 and are in the form of a general rule.

“The simple are killed by their turning away”: “The simple” are those referred to in verse 22 who love ignorance. “Turning away” refers to turning way from or refusing instruction in right living. Their refusal to listen to instruction causes their death.

“Complacence” renders a word that means here to be at ease by neglecting or ignoring what should be done. “Fools” translates the same word used in verse 22. This line is translated by Contemporary English Version as “self satisfaction brings destruction to . . . fools,” and by Good News Translation as “Stupid people are destroyed by their own lack of concern.” We may also say, for example, “Indifference destroys foolish people” or “Paying no attention to what should be done destroys fools.”

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 1:32)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 1:32:

  • Kupsabiny: “So the fools will be killed by their foolishness and those who refuse the word of God, will be destroyed.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Because people who lack wisdom are far from me, they will die.
    Because fools have no concern, they will be destroyed.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “For the trespassing of those who have no wisdom will-kill them,
    and the being-just-relaxed of fools will-destroy them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “For those who know nothing and fools, they will-be-destroyed and will die, for they turned- their -backs on me Wisdom, but they were-satisfied nevertheless with their situation and what was in their minds was always ‘Let come what may’ (lit. it will-be-responsible-for that: an idiom expressing lack of concern).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:32

Paragraph 1:32–33

1:32

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

32a For the waywardness of the simple will slay them,

32b and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

1:32a

For: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For often introduces a reason for the preceding statement. However, here it introduces a conclusion (1:32–33) to the whole section (1:20–33). This conclusion contrasts the disastrous fate of people who turn away from Wisdom with the peaceful life that is the reward of people who heed Wisdom.

Some English versions introduce this conclusion without an explicit word. For example:

Fools will die because they refuse to listen (New Century Version)

In other languages, it may be natural to introduce a conclusion with a word like “surely.” For example:

Surely/Indeed easily-deceived people will die…

Introduce this conclusion in a natural way in your language.

waywardness: In Hebrew, when this word is used elsewhere in the OT, it always means to turn away from God. However, in this context, it means to constantly turn away from Wisdom. For example:

reject wisdom (Good News Translation)

Here is another way to translate this:

turn away from me (New Living Translation (2004))

The word “me” refers here to Wisdom.

simple: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as simple refers to inexperienced, naive people who allow themselves to be easily persuaded or led astray into foolish behavior.

will slay them: The phrase will slay them indicates that the easily-deceived person’s persistence in rejecting Wisdom will result in his death. The way he will die is not specified. For example:

Inexperienced people die because they reject wisdom. (Good News Translation)

1:32b

and the complacency of fools: The word complacency describes an attitude of careless indifference to important truths and responsibilities. Other ways to translate this word are:

lack of concern (Good News Translation)
-or-
self-satisfaction (Contemporary English Version)

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

will destroy them: In this context, the word destroy means the same as “slay” in 1:32a.

General Comment on 1:32a–b

In some languages, it may be necessary to combine and/or reorder the parallel lines to show that both “the simple” and “fools” describe the same kind of people. They will both experience destruction and death. For example:

Easily-deceived fools will die because they have rejected me, Wisdom, and are complacent about their foolishness.

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