Translation commentary on Proverbs 15:5

“A fool despises his father’s instruction”: In 1.7 a fool is said to “despise wisdom and instruction.” The sense of “despises” here may be expressed as “refuses to listen to” or “rejects.” “His father’s instruction” may need to be expressed as “what his father teaches him.” Some modern translations like New Revised Standard Version make “father’s” inclusive with “a parent’s instruction.” See Good News Translation also.

“But he who heeds admonition is prudent”: New Revised Standard Version has “but the one who. . ..” Revised English Bible says “but whoever. . ..” “Heeds admonition” is literally “keeps correction,” which means “who accepts, follows, or obeys the correction given by the father [parents].” For “admonition” refer to 1.23 where “reproof” is used. “Prudent” means to be wise, intelligent, or successful in undertakings. See 1.4.

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 15:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 15:5:

  • Kupsabiny: “A person who does not want to be brought back/corrected is stupid,
    but the one who loves to be brought back is wise.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Only fools have no concern
    for what their fathers teach them.
    Wise people acknowledge this [They know that this is right].” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A foolish man does- not -pay-attention when his father straightens his behavior, but a wise-one on-the-other-hand pays-attention.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “A foolish-person mocks/belittles the advice of his father, but the thinking/reflective-person, he follows advice.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Foolish children despise their parents when their parents correct/discipline them;
    wise children accept it.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 15:5

15:5

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

5a
A fool rejects his father’s discipline,

5b but whoever heeds correction is prudent.

The parallel parts form a chiasm. The parts in 15:5a occur in the opposite order from the parallel parts in 15:5b. If a chiasm is not natural in your language, you may need to reorder the parallel parts. For example, you could reorder 15:5a to say:

5a
Whoever spurns his father’s discipline is a fool

Another option is to keep 15:5a as in the Berean Standard Bible but reorder 15:5b to say:

5b but a prudent person heeds correction.

15:5a–b

fool…is prudent: This proverb contrasts an arrogant, immoral fool with a person who is prudent. The phrase is prudent refers to a person who is sensible or shrewd.

rejects his father’s discipline…heeds correction: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rejects means “undervalues,” “despises,” or “treats with disdain.” A person who rejects his father’s discipline ignores or refuses to accept his father’s instruction, advice, rebuke, or discipline. The person who heeds correction accepts and learns from criticism, rebuke, or punishment. No contrast is intended between the meanings of discipline and correction. See the note on 13:18a–b, where the same two nouns occur.

In some languages, it may be necessary to make explicit who does the correcting/rebuking. If that is true in your language, you may specify:

• “⌊his father’s⌋ correction” (exact contrast with 15:5a)

• “⌊another person’s⌋ correction” (general contrast with 15:5a).

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