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 4:10

“Hear, my son, and accept my words”: For “my son” see comments on 1.8. “Accept” is to be open to, to take in, to receive, or to obey. For a similar expression see 2.1. See Good News Translation “take seriously.” “My words”, as in 2.1, refers to the instruction or teaching given by the teacher.

“That the years of your life may be many”: See 3.2, 16, 18. You may find it is better to restructure this verse with an “if” clause followed by a result; for example, “My son, if you will accept my teachings [what I tell you], you will live a long time” or “If you will obey what I teach you, child, you will have a long 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 4:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 4:10:

  • Kupsabiny: “My child, listen and accept the words that I am telling you so that you may live in the land/world many years.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “O my son, listen to me!
    Heed what I say [to you]!
    You will have a long life.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Child, listen and accept what I say to you (sing.), so-that your (sing.) life will-be-prolonged.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “My child, listen-to and believe/obey what I say so-that your (sing.) life will-become-long.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 4:10

Section 4:10–19

Sixth lesson: Follow wise behavior and avoid the behavior of evil men

In this lesson, the father compares two lifestyles by using the metaphor of two paths. After an opening admonition to listen to his teaching (4:10), he describes the benefits of walking in the way of wisdom (4:11–13). He then describes the way of evil (4:14–17), and concludes by contrasting the two paths (4:18–19). Since the figure of walking on a path is used throughout this lesson, it is recommended that you keep this figurative idea if possible.

Some other headings for this section are:

Stay on the Path of Wisdom (God’s Word)
-or-
The Right Way and the Wrong Way (Contemporary English Version)

Paragraph 4:10–17

4:10

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning. There are two parallel commands followed by the promised result of obeying them.

10a
Listen, my son, and receive my words,

10b and the years of your life will be many.

4:10a

receive my words: To receive a person’s instruction means not only to believe it is true but also to follow it. Some versions make this explicit by translating:

do as I say (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
obey my teachings (Contemporary English Version)

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