wisdom ("word 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. For the verses referenced here, it uses p’ijil c’op or “word wisdom.”

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

See also buy wisdom.

closed mouth / no answer

In Gbaya, the notion of a closed mouth or someone not answering is emphasized with ɓukui, an ideophone that expresses the fact of being close-mouthed, silent.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 24:7

“Wisdom is too high for a fool”: The Hebrew of this line is “heights for a fool wisdom.” “Wisdom” is actually a plural form, which may have the sense of “Wise sayings” (Good News Translation, Scott); however, most translations simply have “wisdom.” The word for “heights” has an unusual spelling, which has led to some argument about the meaning of the line; but it is the same spelling as is sometimes used for the proper name Ramoth, which means “[fortified] heights.” This is taken by most versions in the sense that wisdom is “too high” for fools to understand or grasp. This is expressed by Scott as “beyond the understanding of the fool” and by Contemporary English Version as “too much for fools.” New Jerusalem Bible uses the picture of the fortified high place: “For a fool wisdom is an inaccessible fortress.” A translation in one Pacific language says “Wise sayings are very strong [difficult], the fool is not able to get their meaning.”

“In the gate he does not open his mouth”: As in 1.21, “in the gate” refers to the assembly of the people of a town where legal and other important matters were discussed and decided. Revised English Bible renders this expression as “in the public assembly” and Good News Translation “when important matters are being discussed.” “He does not open his mouth” means that the fool “does not say anything,” or better, “he is not capable of saying anything of value.” In a number of languages this is expressed as “he is silent” or “he keeps his mouth shut.” In English Revised English Bible uses the expression “he remains tongue-tied,” which means that he is unable to speak because of fear or embarrassment.

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 24:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 24:7:

  • Kupsabiny: “Wisdom is heavy/difficult for a foolish person, so there is nothing (he) will say in council/court.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “For fools’ wisdom is like a high mountain.
    When important matters are discussed,
    they will not be able to say anything.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A foolish man can- not -fathom wisdom. He has nothing to say if it is already important things are-being-discussed.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “A foolish-person does not understand the plans of a wise person, so when leaders gather to converse-together, there-is-nothing that he is able-to-say.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 24:7

Paragraph 24:7 Saying 22

24:7

This saying describes a foolish person’s lack of wisdom and its consequences. The second line gives the context as well as the result of the first line.

7a Wisdom is too high for a fool;

7b he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.

In a context where community leaders have gathered to conduct business, a fool cannot understand their wise words. As a result, he cannot participate effectively in the discussion.

In some languages, it may be helpful to make the relationship between the two lines explicit. For example:

7b
⌊so⌋ in the assembly at the gate…
-or-
7b
⌊as a result,⌋ when leaders gather to discuss important things…

See the General Comment after the note on 24:7b for a way to reorder 24:7a–b.

24:7a

Wisdom is too high for a fool:
This line indicates that a fool is not able to understand the thoughts, plans, and decisions of wise people. Their Wisdom is beyond his ability to appreciate or comprehend. Some other ways to translate this line are:

Foolish people cannot understand wisdom. (New Century Version)
-or-
Matters of wisdom are beyond the grasp of a stubborn fool. (God’s Word)
-or-
The thoughts of wise people are too deep for a fool.

fool: In Hebrew, this word refers to someone who is a moral fool, not someone who lacks intelligence. He is unwilling to do what is right or to avoid what is wrong. The reason he cannot understand wisdom is that he refuses to accept it. Some other ways to translate this word are:

⌊stubborn⌋ fool
-or-
⌊insolent⌋ fool

24:7b

he does not open his mouth: This clause, which the Berean Standard Bible translates literally, probably means that the fool remains quiet. He does not speak.

in the meeting place: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “in the gate.” It refers to the gate in the walls that surrounded a city. City leaders assembled in the area near the gate to discuss business matters and decide legal cases. This is why the Berean Standard Bible has translated this phrase as in the meeting place. Some ways to translate this Hebrew phrase are:

• Keep the reference to “the gate.” Make the cultural function explicit. For example:

Among leaders at the city gate (New Living Translation (2004))

• Translate the function of being at “the gate.” Do not refer to “the gate” explicitly. For example:

in a discussion (New Century Version)
-or-
when important matters are being discussed (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 24:7a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to state the result before the reason. For example:

7b When people gather to discuss important business, the fool keeps quiet,

7a because he cannot understand what wise people are talking about.

Use a natural order in your language to translate the relationship between these two lines.

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