anger

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The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated as “anger” or similar in English in this verse is translated with a variety of solutions (Bratcher / Nida says: “Since anger has so many manifestations and seems to affect so many aspects of personality, it is not strange that expressions used to describe this emotional response are so varied”).

  • Chicahuaxtla Triqui: “be warm inside”
  • Mende: “have a cut heart”
  • Mískito: “have a split heart”
  • Tzotzil: “have a hot heart”
  • Mossi: “a swollen heart”
  • Western Kanjobal: “fire of the viscera”
  • San Blas Kuna: “pain in the heart”
  • Chimborazo Highland Quichua: “not with good eye”
  • Chichewa: “have a burning heart” (source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) (see also anger burned in him)
  • Citak: two different terms, one meaning “angry” and one meaning “offended,” both are actually descriptions of facial expressions. The former can be represented by an angry stretching of the eyes or by an angry frown. The latter is similarly expressed by an offended type of frown with one’s head lowered. (Source: Graham Ogden)

In Akan, a number of metaphors are used, most importantly abufuo, lit. “weedy chest” (the chest is seen as a container that contains the heart but can also metaphorically be filled with other fluids etc.), but also abufuhyeε lit. “hot/burning weedy chest” and anibereε, lit. “reddened eyes.” (Source: Gladys Nyarko Ansah in Kövecses / Benczes / Szelid 2024, p. 21ff.)

See also God’s anger and angry.

Translation commentary on Proverbs 14:17

“A man of quick temper acts foolishly”: “Quick temper” is literally “short of face” and refers to a person who is easily or quickly angered. Such persons act out of their anger and therefore do foolish things. In some languages quick-tempered people are “people with hot hearts,” “persons with boiling livers,” or “people who fire up quick.”

“But a man of discretion is patient”: Note in the Revised Standard Version footnote that the Hebrew text has “hated” in place of “patient”. This line is literally “and a man of evil plans/devices is hated.” Line 2 does not contrast with line 1; rather, as understood literally, this saying compares the quick-tempered person with the one who makes evil plans. Both kinds of people are discredited. For “man of evil devices” refer to 12.2. The Septuagint drops one Hebrew letter to get a better contrast, as seen in the Revised Standard Version translation of this line. In 1.4 it was pointed out that the word rendered “discretion” has a good sense and refers to wisdom or intelligence. Revised Standard Version and others have interpreted the word in this verse in the same way as in 1.4. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project does not support the Revised Standard Version rendering “man of discretion” but calls him a “calculating man,” that is, someone who plots and schemes. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project also keeps the Hebrew text and sacrifices the contrast between “acts foolishly” and “is patient”. The Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommendation may be expressed, for example, “The quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the scheming person is hated.” Some other models that are supported by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project are “A quick tempered person commits rash acts, but a schemer is detestable” (New Jerusalem Bible) and “An impatient man commits folly; A man of intrigues will be hated” (New Jewish Publication Society Version).

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 14:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 14:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “A person who quickly becomes angry does foolish things,
    but the wise one swallows words.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The hothead does foolish work.
    People who cheat [habitually] are hated.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A man who easily gets angry does foolishness. A man who schemes/plans evil is-hated by God.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The one who easily gets-angry, whatever/however (i.e., unplanned, unpredictable) is what he does like a fool. One who plans evil, people hate (him).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Those who quickly become angry do foolish things;
    people hate those who plan to do wicked things (OR, those who have good sense remain calm/patient).” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 14:17

14:17

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning. The underlined parts describe two kinds of bad behavior. The parts in bold print describe the results of that behavior.

17a
A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,

17b and a devious man is hated.

The idea in the second line is more intense than the first line. It is bad for a man to lose his temper and do something foolish. It is worse when a man deliberately plans to harm someone else.

14:17a

A quick-tempered man acts foolishly: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as A quick-tempered man is literally “⌊A person⌋ short of anger.” This phrase refers to someone who becomes angry easily or loses his temper. English versions translate this idea in a number of ways. For example:

A short-tempered person (God’s Word)
-or-
People with a hot temper (Good News Translation)

Translate this phrase in a natural way in your language.

14:17b

and a devious man is hated: There are two ways to interpret the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as devious. There is also a related textual issue. The textual and interpretation issues will be discussed together:

(1) The Masoretic Text (MT) has “is hated.” Versions that follow the MT understand the word devious in the bad sense of a person who schemes or plots to do what is wicked or harmful to others. For example:

and a person with crafty schemes is hated (NET Bible)

(2) The LXX has “endures.” Some versions take this to mean “endures patiently or calmly.” Versions that follow the LXX understand the word devious in the good sense of a person who is clever in making plans. For example:

but someone with understanding remains calm (New Century Version)

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

a devious man: Another way to translate this phrase is:

a person who plots evil (God’s Word)

is hated: This is a passive verb. One way to translate this line using an active verb is:

If a person plans to harm others, people will hate him.

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