many years of life / live long / one's days may be long

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “for no good purpose,” “evil purpose in mind,” “evil heart” or similar in English is translated in the Catholic Mandarin Chinese Sigao version with a historical Chinese idiom: bùhuái hǎoyì (不懷好意 / 不怀好意), lit. “not intending a good purpose.” (Source: Toshikazu S. Foley in Hong Kong Journal of Catholic Studies, 2011, p. 45ff.)

Note that the Protestant Union Version also uses that idiom in Proverbs 4:10.

Translation commentary on Proverbs 3:2

This verse explains the reward that is given for keeping the commands in verse 1.

“For length of days and years of life”: “For”, together with the subject and verb “they will give” at the end, links this verse to the previous verse as the reason why the learner should treasure the words of the teacher. “Length of . . . life” is “many days and many years” or a long life, as promised in the traditional language of Exo 20.12.

“Abundant welfare will they give you” is literally “They will add peace [Hebrew shalom] to you,” where shalom refers to peace, prosperity, wholeness, health, and completeness of life. It is remembering and practicing the wisdom teachings that will bring the learner this reward. Contemporary English Version says “They will help you live a long and prosperous life.” :Bible en français courant says “Thanks to my advice you will experience well-being and have a long and happy life.”

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 3:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 3:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “These words I am teaching you, will make you prosper, and you shall live many years.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If you do what I say,
    you will live for many years,
    and you will also become rich.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “for this will-prolong and prosper your (sing.) life.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “so that your (sing.) life will-become-long and become-good. You (sing.) should always show your (sing.) loyal love and remain-unchangingly trustworthy.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 3:2

3:2

This verse is a single sentence in Hebrew. Although English versions divide the verse into two lines, these lines do not contain parallel parts. In Hebrew, the verse is more literally “For length of days and years of life and well-being they will add to you.”

3:2a

for they will add length to your days: The word for introduces the motivation or reason for remembering the father’s instructions. The motivation is that obeying these instructions will cause the person to live a long and satisfying life. Other ways to introduce this clause are:

because they will bring you long life (God’s Word)
-or-
If you do this, you will live many years (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Then you will live a long time (New Century Version)

they will add length to your days: The Hebrew idiom “length of days” means “a long life.”

3:2b

years and peace to your life: The phrase years and peace to your life implies a life that is both long and worthwhile. The Hebrew word šalom, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as peace, refers to good health, prosperity, personal well-being, and peaceful relations with others. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

your life will be satisfying (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
they will increase…your well-being (New Jerusalem Bible)

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