complete verse (Proverbs 2:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 2:1:

  • Kupsabiny: “My child, listen to my words, and pay attention to my commands/wishes/will.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “O my son!
    If you listen to my word
    and keep my commands in your heart,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Child, accept and keep in your (sing.) heart what I am teaching and commanding you (sing.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “My child, believe/obey what I say and store-up my commands in your (sing.) thoughts.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 2:1

The speaker in chapter 2 is the teacher of wisdom, not Wisdom herself.

“My son” is the person the words of the teacher are addressed to. See the comments on 1.8.

“If you receive my words”: This is the first in a series of conditional clauses that combine together in meaning and emphasize the necessity of discipline in the pursuit of wisdom. In Hebrew this conditional clause is not followed by the result clause until the other conditional clauses in verses 3 and 4 have been given. In some languages such a series of isolated “if” clauses will create an unnatural style since the reader may expect the result to follow immediately. Where this is the case, you may find it more natural to shift from conditional clauses to commands in verses 1-4 and then to state the results of obeying these commands as a consequence starting in verse 5. In some translations, for instance, verse 1 begins “[My] child, you must listen to my words and. . ..” Note that this is the model of Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version. “You” is singular and masculine in gender as it refers to “My son”. “Receive” in relation to “words” means to accept, acquire, obtain, or in this context to learn. “My words” refers to the words, thoughts, or ideas the teacher or wise one speaks.

“Receive my words” is sometimes rendered idiomatically; for example, “Put my words in your heart,” “Write my words on your heart,” “Swallow the words I give you,” or “Open your ears to my teaching.”

“Treasure up my commandments with you”: “Treasure up” translates a verb used in Psa 17.14 that Good News Translation renders “stored up.” The sense here is that of saving, guarding, or keeping hidden something precious. “Commandments” are usually the laws and instructions given by Yahweh to his people. In this context, however, the term refers to the instructions given by the teacher of wisdom. Contemporary English Version says “my instructions” and Good News Translation “what I tell you to do.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch gives a good model translation for verse 1: My son, pay attention to what I say to you. Guard my advice like a treasure.

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 2:1

Section 2:1–22

Second lesson: Wisdom will spare you from the dangers of crime and adultery

Here is a summary of the advice in this section: If you accept what I teach and seek to become wise (2:1–4), you will indeed become wise, and because of your wisdom, you will know how to revere the LORD and how to do what is right. You will also be protected (2:5–11). Wisdom will protect you from wicked men (2:12–15) and from adulterous women (2:16–19). Consequently, you will follow a righteous lifestyle and enjoy a long life in your own land, but the wicked will be forced to leave their land (2:20–22).

Some other headings for this section are:

The Benefits of Wisdom (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
The Rewards of Wisdom (Good News Translation)
-or-
The rewards/benefits that wisdom gives to people

Paragraph 2:1–4

The speech by Wisdom ends in 1:33. The father’s second lesson begins in 2:1. Verses 1–4 contains a series of “if” clauses. These clauses give the conditions for the desired results that begin in 2:5. The function of this paragraph is to give advice. The father wants his son to become wise.

In some languages, it may not be natural to have one long sentence with a series of “if” clauses. Another way to translate this information is to change the “if” clauses into commands. For example:

My child, listen to me and treasure my instructions (New Living Translation (1996))

The series of result clauses beginning with 2:5 can then be introduced with:

Then you will understand… (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
⌊If you do all these things,⌋ you will understand…

2:1–4

It is common in Hebrew parallelism for the meaning to intensify from one poetic line to the next. In the eight parallel statements in 2:1–4, each statement implies a greater degree of involvement or effort than the statement that precedes it. You should try to maintain this poetic intensification if it is meaningful in your language.

2:1

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

1a My son, if you accept my words

1b and hide my commandments within you,

The meaning of the term “commandments” in the second line is stronger or more intense than the meaning of the parallel term “words” in the first line. The verb “hide” (“treasure”) also implies greater effort than “accept.”

2:1a

My son: See the note on My son in 1:8a.

if you accept my words: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as accept often means “take” or “acquire.” In this context, to “take/acquire” the father’s words means to believe that they are true or valid. It also implies that the son should learn them and make them a part of his thoughts. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

learn what I teach you (Good News Translation)
-or-
if you take my words to heart (New Jerusalem Bible)

my words: The phrase my words should be understood as authoritative advice or teaching, because it is parallel with the phrase “my commandments” in 2:1b.

2:1b

and hide my commandments within you: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hide usually means “to hide,” “treasure” or “store up.” In the context of “hiding” commands, it probably means “to memorize.” It is the same word that is used in Psalm 119:11. Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

never forget what I tell you to do (Good News Translation)
-or-
remember what I command you (New Century Version)

The verb hide also implies that the father’s commands are valuable. Many English versions use the verb “treasure” to make this idea explicit. To treasure something means to regard it as precious or valuable. For example:

treasure my commandments deep within you (Revised English Bible)

my commandments: This phrase refers here to the father’s authoritative instructions to his son in chapters 2–9.

General Comment on 2:1a–b

In languages that use parallelism, it may be possible to retain the intensification of meaning between 2:1a and 2:1b. In other languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel terms. For example:

My child, you must follow and treasure my teachings and my instructions. (Contemporary English Version)

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