Translation commentary on Proverbs 19:27

This verse is built on the pattern of sayings found throughout chapters 1–9. This is the only use of irony in Proverbs, if that is really what it is. Irony is saying the opposite of what is intended.

“Cease, my son, to hear instruction”: Here the father commands his son “to stop listening to instruction” in order to point to the unfortunate consequences that will follow. For “hear instruction” refer to 8.33. Good News Translation, which uses a time clause followed by a result clause, does not treat this line as irony. This reflects the Septuagint, which changes this line into a statement “A son who ceases to attend to the instruction of a father. . ..”

“Only to stray from the words of knowledge”: If the first line is understood as a command, and therefore ironical, the second line may carry the thought forward with the same irony; for example, “so that you may stray” or “in order to stray.” “Stray” means to “leave,” “depart,” or “abandon.” “Words of knowledge” is equivalent to wisdom, knowledge or instruction. Revised English Bible, which does not use the command in line 1, translates “A son who ceases to accept correction is sure to turn his back on the teachings of knowledge.” See Good News Translation.

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 19:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 19:27:

  • Kupsabiny: “My child, if you refuse a teaching,
    you will go astray from words/deeds of wisdom.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “O my son!
    If you stop listening to instruction
    (the work of acquiring knowledge
    and making it known)
    you will be misled by your own wisdom.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Child, if you (sing.) do- not -listen to the straightening of your (sing.) behavior, you (sing.) reject the teachings which give wisdom.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “My child, if you (sing.) stop learning, you (sing.) will-become-far from what you (sing.) learned.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “My son, if you stop learning things,
    you will soon forget what you already know.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 19:27

19:27

The second line of this verse gives the result of the first line.

27a If you cease to hear instruction, my son,

you will stray from the words of knowledge.

In the Hebrew, 19:27a is a warning that implies an “if” statement. The Berean Standard Bible and the NET Bible makes the “if” statement explicit. For example:

27a
If you stop listening to instruction, my child, (NET Bible)

27b you will stray from the words of knowledge. (NET Bible)

In the Hebrew text, this verse is literally:

27a Cease, my son, to listen to instruction,

27b
to stray from words of knowledge.

It seems to be a command that the son stop listening to instruction in order to stray from words of knowledge. This is not a reasonable command. So most scholars think that the author is using irony. He is saying the opposite of what he intends the son to understand.

However, this kind of irony is not used elsewhere in Proverbs. It is also difficult to understand this kind of irony correctly, because nothing else in the context implies it.

Scholars agree that the purpose of this verse is to emphasize to the son the serious consequences of not listening to instruction. Some ways to express this meaning are:

• Use an “if” statement, as the Berean Standard Bible has done.

• Use a command that means to not stop listening. For example:

27a Don’t stop listening to correction, my child, 27b or you will forget what you have already learned. (New Century Version)

• Use irony or sarcasm. For example:

So, my son, you want to ignore all the useful things that you have learned, do you? Go ahead, then, block your ears! Be sure that you do not listen to wise advice!

19:27a

hear instruction: For the word instruction, see discipline in the Glossary. Here it refers to wise moral teaching.

19:27b

you will stray from the words of knowledge: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as words of knowledge is parallel to “instruction.” It also refers to teaching from a wise teacher. The whole clause implies that this is wisdom or knowledge that the son previously learned. To stray from this knowledge as a result of no longer listening to instruction implies that:

• The son will no longer think about what he has learned, so he will forget it. For example:

you will forget what you already know (Contemporary English Version)

• The son will neglect wise conduct in his life and actions and will wander off the path of right behavior. For example:

you will soon neglect what you already know (Good News Translation)
-or-
you will turn your back on knowledge (New Living Translation (2004))

See the note on 5:23b, where the same Hebrew verb is used.

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