anger

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The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated as “anger” or similar in English in this verse is translated with a variety of solutions (Bratcher / Nida says: “Since anger has so many manifestations and seems to affect so many aspects of personality, it is not strange that expressions used to describe this emotional response are so varied”).

  • Chicahuaxtla Triqui: “be warm inside”
  • Mende: “have a cut heart”
  • Mískito: “have a split heart”
  • Tzotzil: “have a hot heart”
  • Mossi: “a swollen heart”
  • Western Kanjobal: “fire of the viscera”
  • San Blas Kuna: “pain in the heart”
  • Chimborazo Highland Quichua: “not with good eye”
  • Chichewa: “have a burning heart” (source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation) (see also anger burned in him)
  • Citak: two different terms, one meaning “angry” and one meaning “offended,” both are actually descriptions of facial expressions. The former can be represented by an angry stretching of the eyes or by an angry frown. The latter is similarly expressed by an offended type of frown with one’s head lowered. (Source: Graham Ogden)

In Akan, a number of metaphors are used, most importantly abufuo, lit. “weedy chest” (the chest is seen as a container that contains the heart but can also metaphorically be filled with other fluids etc.), but also abufuhyeε lit. “hot/burning weedy chest” and anibereε, lit. “reddened eyes.” (Source: Gladys Nyarko Ansah in Kövecses / Benczes / Szelid 2024, p. 21ff.)

See also God’s anger and angry.

complete verse (Proverbs 29:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 29:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “People who are mockers/insulters incite uproar in a city,
    but the wise, (they) cool down things.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Those who mock others
    create tumult all over the country.
    But wise people restrain their anger.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The people that mock start-up trouble in a city, but the wise men stop it.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The mocker, he causes-there-to-be riots/turmoil in the entire city, but a wise-person is-capable-of extinguishing what is like burning anger.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Those who make fun of everything that is good say things that cause everyone in the city to be agitated/in turmoil;
    those who are wise enable people to remain calm.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 29:8

This saying contrasts the effect of scoffers with that of wise people in the affairs of a city.

“Scoffers set a city aflame”: For “Scoffers” see 1.22. The Hebrew wording pictures someone blowing on hot coals to produce a flame. The sense is to incite or stir up the passions and violence of the people of a town and thus to cause political and social unrest. Note Good News Translation “throw . . . into turmoil.” We may also say, for example, “Scoffers can turn a peaceful town into a troubled one.”

“But wise men turn away wrath”: To “turn away wrath” means to bring back peace, reestablish calm, or restore order. Bible en français courant says “but people of reason pacify the disturbed inhabitants.” In one translation this is expressed as “But people of good thinking make anger die and make people peaceful.”

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 .