Translation commentary on Proverbs 2:14

“Who rejoice in doing evil”: In verse 13 these persons live in darkness, but in this verse they go even farther; they “rejoice”, that is, they are happy in doing evil or living in a wicked way. Contemporary English Version marks the greater intensity in verse 14 with “Most of all they enjoy. . ..” We may also say, for example, “Who are happy when they do bad things” or “They are even glad to do evil deeds.”

“Delight in the perverseness of evil”: “Delight” translates a different word than that used in 1.22, but with the same sense and matching “rejoice” in the first line. “Perverseness” is the same term as used in verse 12 and means little more than the badness of evil. Bible en français courant translates “They enjoy doing bad [things] and take pleasure in wickedness.” We may also say, for example, “They feel good when they do bad things and when they deceive people,” or, using a verb in each line, “They enjoy doing evil and are happy to tell lies.”

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 2:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 2:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “They rejoice/are happy doing things that are evil and of arrogance.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “These [understanding and insight]
    will keep you far away from evil doers.
    and [deliver us from] those
    who abandon the good path
    to go down the dark path,
    and [deliver us from] those
    who keep on rejoicing
    in false and evil work,
    and deliver [us] from untrustworthy liars.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They delight in doing evil (thing), and they are-pleased by the evil of what they do.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “They are-made-happy and given-enjoyment by doing evil.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 2:14

2:14

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

14a from those who enjoy doing evil

14b and rejoice in the twistedness of evil

2:14b

rejoice in the twistedness of evil: In Hebrew, the word the Berean Standard Bible translates here as twistedness usually refers to words. Here it is parallel to doing wrong, so it probably refers to actions. The Hebrew word comes from a verb root that means “to turn upside down.” It implies that evil is the opposite of the LORD’s moral standard. This may be the reason why the New Living Translation (1996) translates this line as:

they enjoy evil as it turns things upside down (New Living Translation (1996))

Many English versions, however, translate twistedness with a word that indicates deception. Scholars disagree about the meaning of the phrase twistedness of evil. The difference is not important. Many English versions link the two words with “and.” For example:

they…are happy to do what is crooked and evil (New Century Version)
-or-
they…exult in wicked and subversive acts (Revised English Bible)

General Comment on 2:14a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. For example:

Most of all they enjoy being mean and deceitful. (Contemporary English Version)

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