complete verse (Proverbs 21:29)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 21:29:

  • Kupsabiny: “A crooked person is dry-headed (stubborn/unresponsive),
    but the upright, plans for/prepares his ways/paths.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The wicked might boast.
    But the righteous only act
    according to their conscience.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A wicked man is not concerned with what he does, but a righteous on-the-other-hand he thinks carefully what he does.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “A sinner boasts-about his ability, but the righteous-one thinks properly about what he does.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Wicked people pretend that they know everything,
    but righteous people think carefully about what will happen because of what they do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 21:29

This verse is another of the typical sayings that contrast the behavior of the wicked person and the righteous person.

“A wicked man puts on a bold face”: “Puts on a bold face” is literally “makes strong [in] his face.” In English “puts on a bold face” or “puts up a bold front” (New International Version) means to pretend to be sure of yourself, or more colloquially “to bluff your way” (Contemporary English Version). Two examples of renderings in other languages are: “The evildoer pretends and makes out he is a good person. . .” and “The bad man makes out he knows everything, and just goes ahead. . ..”

“But an upright man considers his ways”: The meaning of “considers his ways” is something like “give[s] thought to. . .” (New Revised Standard Version, New International Version) or “thinks about what he is doing.” However, as the footnotes in Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version show, there is a variant in the Hebrew text between what is written and what is traditionally read aloud; the written text, which Hebrew Old Testament Text Project favors (“C” rating), has “establishes his ways,” and the text that is read is “understands his way.” The versions that have “considers” or its equivalent are following the form of the text that is read. The written form “establishes his ways” has the sense of “is sure of his way” (Scott, and see Good News Translation) or “the honest . . . whose steps are firm” (New Jerusalem Bible). Translators may follow either of these possibilities.

Good News Translation has restructured the whole verse by reversing the order of the lines. This makes the positive statement about the righteous person come first; and this approach may appeal to translators in some other languages also.

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 21:29

21:29

This proverbs contrasts the behavior of a wicked person with the behavior of an upright person.

29a
A wicked man hardens his face,

29b but the upright man makes his way sure.

The contrast is not exact. The parallel lines imply that a wicked person does not think about his actions. They also imply that an upright person does not deceive others by acting in an over-confident way.

21:29a

A wicked man hardens his face: The figure of speech that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hardens his face is literally “makes strong with his face.” This figure of speech indicates that:

(a) The true character of the wicked is hidden behind false pretenses.

(b) Wicked people boldly pretend that everything they do is good. But the truth is that they are wicked in character.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

A wicked person shows boldness with his face (NET Bible)
-or-
Wicked people bluff their way (Contemporary English Version)

21:29b

but the upright man makes his way sure: There is a textual issue here with the verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as makes…sure. There are two options in the Masoretic Text:

(1) The first option is the verb makes…sure or “considers.” With this option, the line means that the upright person carefully thinks about his conduct. He considers what he is doing now and what he plans to do in the future. For example:

but as for the upright, he discerns his ways (NET Bible)

(2) The second option is the verb “makes firm.” With this option, the line means that the upright person is certain about his conduct. He is confident that what he does and what he will do in the future are right. For example:

but as for the upright, he makes his way sure (New American Standard Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). The meaning of this option is very similar to 14:8a.

Some other ways to translate this line are:

but good people think carefully about what they do (New Century Version)
-or-
but the virtuous think before they act (New Living Translation (2004))

the upright man: The word upright was last used in 21:18b. Also see the note in 11:3a.

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