Translation commentary on Proverbs 14:15

Verses 15-18 contrast wise and foolish people.

“The simple believes everything”: For “simple” see 1.4. This word in Hebrew is singular but may be expressed in the plural. “Believes” means to accept something as true or real. “Everything” renders a phrase meaning “every word” and probably means here that the simple person accepts as true everything he hears. Such a person lacks the maturity to distinguish between what is true and what is false. Bible en français courant says “A naive person believes everything anyone tells him.”

“But the prudent looks where he is going” is literally “but the prudent watches his steps.” Note Good News Translation. This line contrasts the “prudent” (“wise,” “clever”) person with the “simple” (naive) person in line 1. “Watches his steps” is a figure that means to be cautious, alert, or aware, with the sense of being careful not to be misled by untruth. In some languages this line is expressed, for example, “but the clever person keeps an eye on the path” or “if you are smart you sleep with one eye open.”

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 14:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 14:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “An unwise/unthinking person believes everything,
    but a wise person thinks about what (he) wants to do.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “A foolish person believes anything,
    but wise people take a step
    only after checking it out.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A man who has no wisdom believes anything; a man who knows how to weigh what is right or wrong surely guards his steps.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The one who knows nothing, it is easy for him to believe all that he hears, but the careful/circumspect, he thinks properly/thoroughly where-he-is-headed.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Foolish people believe everything that people tell them;
    those who have good sense think carefully about what will be the result of their actions.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 14:15

14:15

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

15a
The simple man believes every word,

15b but the prudent man watches his steps.

14:15a

The simple man believes every word: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as simple refers to someone who is inexperienced, naïve, or easily deceived. Such a person is immature and tends to believe anything that he hears. Some other ways to translate this word are:

naive/gullible person
-or-
someone with little experience
-or-
a person who is easily deceived
-or-
people who don’t know anything

14:15b

but the prudent man watches his steps: For the words translated here as prudent and watches, see the notes on 14:8a, where the Berean Standard Bible uses the terms “prudent” and “discern.” The phrase his steps is a figure of speech with the same meaning as “his way/path.” It refers to a person’s conduct or way of life.

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