understanding ("head 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” in English. One of them is p’ijil jol or “word wisdom” which is also used for “understanding,” good sense,” “intelligent,” or “insight.”

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

Translation commentary on Proverbs 2:11

In verse 11 the language returns to the image of guarding and protecting from verse 8.

“Discretion will watch over you”: For “discretion” see 1.4. “Watch over” translates the same word as “preserve” (Revised Standard Version) in verse 8. In languages in which it is unnatural to speak of an abstract noun functioning as a person, some adjustments must be made. See comments on 1.20. If direct personification cannot be used, we may suggest, for example, “Discretion and understanding will be like guards who will keep watch over you” or “Discretion . . . will protect you like a guard keeps watch over somebody.”

Many translators will find that the two lines of this verse can best be reduced to one because of their similarity in form and meaning.

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 2:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 2:11:

  • Kupsabiny: “It will keep you and protect/help you.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Because of your insight and understanding,
    you will be protected.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If you (sing.) know how to decide correctly, this can-protect you (sing.). If you (sing.) have-understanding, this can-keep you (sing.)” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Your (sing.) carefulness/circumspection and your (sing.) understanding, it’s as if they are what protects you (sing.).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 2:11

2:11

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

11a
Discretion will watch over you,

11b and understanding will guard you

2:11a–b

Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you: An additional benefit of becoming wise is that a person will have the Discretion and understanding to protect him from the evil influences described in the following verses. Discretion (Hebrew: mǝzimmah) is the ability to think through a situation and make good plans (see the note on 1:4b). The word understanding (Hebrew: tǝbunah) is practical good sense (see the note on 2:2b).

General Comment on 2:11a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts, as the Contemporary English Version has done:

Sound judgment and good sense will watch over you. (Contemporary English Version)

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