slow to anger

The phrase that is typically translated in English as “slow to anger” is rendered in Bawm with the idiom “be of a long mind” (source: David Clark), in Kako as “have a long heart” (source: Reyburn 2002, p. 190), and in Akan as “his chest is slow to grow weed” (see anger) (source: Gladys Nyarko Ansah in Kövecses / Benczes / Szelid 2024, p. 21ff.).

Sere also quick to anger and patient / patience.

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 14:29

Verses 29-30 (and also verse 33) share the common theme of control of emotions. Verse 29 expresses the idea that a quick temper is a sign of lack of good sense.

“He who is slow to anger has great understanding”: This line is concise and is literally “long of face, much understanding.” New Revised Standard Version has revised “He who” to “Whoever.” “Slow to anger”, that is, “does not get angry quickly,” is expressed figuratively in some languages; for example, “sits on his hot heart,” “makes quiet his liver,” “keeps his innermost silent,” or “doesn’t get hot inside quickly.” “Great understanding” means to “have good sense,” “be very wise,” “show great intelligence or insight.”

“But he who has a hasty temper exalts folly”: This line contrasts with the first. “A hasty temper” is literally “short spirit.” This is expressed in some languages as “hot heart,” “shaky liver,” or “he fires up quick” (see verse 17). “Exalts”, based on a verb meaning “to be high,” does not seem to give a satisfactory sense and so some change the Hebrew text to a verb meaning “increases.” This gives a better parallel with line 1. In either case the sense seems clear that a person with a quick temper acts foolishly or shows his lack of intelligence. Contemporary English Version says “It’s smart to be patient, but it’s stupid to lose your temper.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “To be patient shows much intelligence; to be impatient shows great stupidity.”

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 14:29)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 14:29:

  • Kupsabiny: “A person who endures things, is wise,
    but the short-tempered reveals his foolishness.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “One who is able to keep his patience [does not get angry] is wise.
    those who show their anger,
    only show their foolishness.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A patient man is very wise, but a man who easily gets angry shows his foolishness.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “A patient person, he is greatly wise, but one who easily gets-angry, he is extremely foolish.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Those who do not quickly become angry are very wise;
    by quickly becoming angry, people show that they are foolish.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 14:29

14:29

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

29a
A patient man has great understanding,

29b but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.

14:29a

A patient man: This phrase contrasts exactly with its parallel in 14:29b, “a quick-tempered man.” It refers to a person who is able to control his anger. Such a person does not easily or quickly become angry. Another way to translate this idea is:

If you stay calm (Good News Translation)

has great understanding: In Hebrew, this word for understanding refers to a person’s competence or good sense to do what is appropriate. It does not refer to the ability to understand ideas.

Another way to translate this line is:

The patient man shows much good sense (New American Bible)

14:29b

but a quick-tempered man: Here, a quick-tempered man is someone who easily or quickly becomes angry. Many languages have idioms to express this idea. For example, in English we say that someone is “hot-headed” or “has a short fuse.” If your language has an idiom that would be appropriate in this context, consider using it.

promotes folly: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as promotes is literally “exalts, lifts up.” It can mean either “shows publicly” or “shows to the greatest extent.” Probably both ideas are involved. For example:

but a short temper is the height of stupidity (God’s Word)
-or-
but if you have a hot temper, you only show how stupid you are (Good News Translation)

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