wisdom ("heart wisdom")

In the Tzeltal translation for the dialectal variant of Highland Tzeltal (Biblia Tzeltal yu’un Oxchuc soc Tenejapa, 2001) the translation team used three different words to translate the Hebrew term that is translated as “wisdom” or “wise” in English. For the verses referenced here, it uses p’ijil-o’tanil or “heart wisdom.”

For the complete story and more background, please see wisdom (Proverbs).

Translation commentary on Proverbs 19:8

“He who gets wisdom loves himself” is literally “He who gets heart loves his own soul.” As in 15.32, “heart” is the center of thought or intelligence and is used to represent wisdom or knowledge. “Loves himself” is not to be taken as self-love or self-centeredness. The expression means “he has regard or respect for himself.” In other words he is taking care of his own best interests, doing himself a good deed. See Good News Translation “Do yourself a favor.” Scott says “He who develops his mind is his own best friend.”

“He who keeps understanding will prosper”: “Keeps understanding” is used in a similar expression in 5.2 and 7.1-2 and means here “to learn good sense.” “Prosper”, which is literally “finds good,” was used in 16.20 and means to “be successful,” to “end up well,” or to “be happy.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translates this saying “He who learns and practices what he learns respects himself and prospers.”

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 19:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 19:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “A person who has found wisdom wishes/desires life for himself,
    and if (he) has understanding/knowledge, (he) will prosper.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “To get knowledge is to love oneself.
    Don’t lose the knowledge that you get.
    Through this [knowledge]
    you will become prosperous.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A man who tries to become-wise is-concerned of himself, and this man will-prosper.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Help yourself (sing.) (lit. your body) so-that you (sing.) will learn, and value what you (sing.) have learned so-that your (sing.) life will-improve.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Those who become wise are doing a favor for themselves;
    those who get good sense will prosper.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 19:8

19:8

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

8a
He who acquires wisdom loves himself ;

8b
one who safeguards understanding will find success.

The overall meaning is that a person who heeds the practical wisdom that he has gained truly cares about his own well-being. Such a person will be successful.

19:8a

He who acquires wisdom: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as wisdom is literally “heart.” In Hebrew, the word “heart” refers primarily to a person’s mental faculties. This includes the ability to think clearly and to make good decisions. So the phrase “gets heart” refers here to a person who gains intelligence and insight.

The meaning of this phrase is very similar to “buying wisdom” in 17:16b. See the note there.

loves himself: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as himself refers to the person’s own life. In this context, loving one’s own life or self has a positive connotation. It means that the person cares about his well-being and values the things that will truly lead to his benefit.

Some other ways to translate 19:8a are:

To learn sense is true self-love (Revised English Bible)
-or-
The one who acquires wisdom loves himself (NET Bible)
-or-
Do yourself a favor and learn all you can (Good News Translation)

19:8b

one who safeguards understanding: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as one who safeguards understanding is literally “the one keeping understanding” or “the one preserving understanding.” The word understanding refers here to the “good sense” or “competence” to handle the situations that a person faces in life. In Proverbs, a person “preserves his good sense” (keeps it from being ruined or lost) by heeding it and putting it into practice.

will find success: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will find success is literally “finds good.” It means that a person benefits or prospers both materially and morally.

Some other ways to translate 19:8b are:

he who keeps understanding will be successful (New American Bible)
-or-
then remember what you learn and you will prosper (Good News Translation)

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