Translation commentary on Proverbs 14:14

“A perverse man will be filled with the fruit of his ways”: The expression “A perverse man” was first used by Revised Standard Version in 3.32. The Hebrew uses a different term here and means a person who has turned away in his heart (from the right way). New English Bible/Revised English Bible call such persons “renegades.” Moffatt has “he who goes wrong.” “Will be filled” translates a verb meaning “to be sated,” that is, “to be satisfied [usually the appetite] to the point of excess,” “to have too much.” “The fruit of his ways” is literally “from his ways,” which refers to the bad conduct or evil way of life of the perverse person. This line affirms that the wicked person will suffer the consequences of his behavior. See Good News Translation.

“And a good man with the fruit of his deeds”: The Revised Standard Version footnote shows that the Hebrew text has “from upon him” and that Revised Standard Version has made a change in the text to get “of his deeds”. “Fruit” has been supplied in both lines by Revised Standard Version. Although this line is difficult, the thought here is that the good person will be satisfied (rewarded) more than the perverse person in line 1. The saying contrasts the greater satisfaction for the good person with that of the bad person. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, which rates the Hebrew text translated “from upon him” as “B,” admits that the text in this form is not original and suggests as a translation something like “The perverse person will only be satisfied by his wicked ways, but the good person will have a greater satisfaction.” Translators may find Good News Translation a better model than this.

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 14:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 14:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “Bad people will meet with/get what (they) deserve,
    and/but the good people will be blessed based on what (they) do.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Evil people will have to bear
    the consequences of their evil deeds.
    But good people will get to take
    the rewards for their good work.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A man will-be-paid-back with what is- very -fitting to what he had-done, either good or bad.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The cruel/malicious will be punished and the righteous/just will be rewarded on-account-of what they have done.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Those who stubbornly continue to do what is wrong will get what they deserve,
    and those who continually do what is good will also get what they deserve.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 14:14

14:14

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

14a
The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways,

14b but a good man is rewarded for his ways.

In Hebrew, the second line has no verb, so there is no actual contrast in the words that are used. But the context clearly implies that the “backslider in heart” and the “good man” will experience different consequences for their actions.

14:14a

The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as backslider in heart refers to a person who has turned away from following the LORD or from following the right way. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

The faithless (New International Version)
-or-
Renegades (Revised English Bible)
-or-
People who turn away from the LORD

receives the fill of his own ways: The Hebrew verb that is used here is passive, literally “will be filled.” Some English versions translate it with a passive verb. For example:

will be fully repaid for their ways (New International Version)

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

get what they deserve (Good News Translation)
-or-
suffer the consequences of what they have done
-or-
be punished for their deeds

14:14b

but a good man is rewarded for his ways: Many English versions begin this verse part with the word “and.” However, if you use a verb with an undesirable meaning, such as “punished,” in 14:14a, it may be more natural to begin 14:14b with but, as the Berean Standard Bible does. Connect these lines in a way that naturally expresses in your language the relationship between them.

General Comment on 14:14a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. See 14:14a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

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