Translation commentary on Proverbs 3:14

This verse is another example of parallelism in which the respective elements of the two lines match and the second line repeats and emphasizes the meaning expressed in the first.

“For the gain from it is better than gain from silver”: The sense of this line is similar to that expressed in 8.19 in which the value of wisdom is said to be greater that the value of gold and silver. “Gain” refers to profit that is made by trading, dealing, buying, and selling. It is used here in a figurative sense because people do not literally make merchandise of wisdom; the sense is “what people gain when they discover wisdom.” As an alternative interpretation “gain” may be understood as what wisdom gains, that is, “her income.” New Revised Standard Version translates “for her income is better than silver.”

“And its profit better than gold”: “Its” refers to finding wisdom (getting understanding) in verse 13. “Profit” translates a word often used to refer to agricultural produce but is sometimes, as here, used more generally for income and so is a match for “gain” in the first line. Contemporary English Version has a good model translation: “Wisdom is worth more than silver; it makes you much richer than gold.” This means wisdom gives you more wealth than gold can give.

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 3:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 3:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “for knowledge gives things beyond wealth.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “This is more profitable than silver,
    and more precious than gold.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “For this is more valuable than silver and gold,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “For wisdom, it is more-valuable than silver and gold.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 3:14

3:14

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

14a for she is more profitable than silver

14b and her gain is better than fine gold.

3:14a–b

for: The word translated here as for introduces an explanation for the statement in 3:13 that a person who becomes wise will be truly happy.

is more profitable than silver…gain is better than fine gold: The comparison is not between the value of wisdom and the value of silver and gold but between the profits that each produces. For example:

The profit gained from wisdom is greater than the profit gained from silver. Its yield is better than fine gold. (God’s Word)

Having wisdom is a better investment than having silver and gold, because it yields greater profits or benefits. It is clear from 3:16 that these benefits include material advantages as well as moral benefits.

3:14b

her gain is better: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as her gain usually refers to crops, but here it refers figuratively to the benefits of having wisdom.

General Comment on 3:14a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel lines. See 3:14a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

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