Translation commentary on Proverbs 4:14

The series of exhortations now changes from positive commands to warnings about what to avoid. In verses 14-15 the teacher advises the learner to stay away from evil people. In verses 16-17 he describes the ways of the wicked, and in verse 18 the way of the righteous is contrasted with the way of the wicked in verse 19.

“Do not enter the path of the wicked”: See 1.15 for the same advice. “Enter the path” is figurative language meaning to live as they do, do the things they do, or be like them. These words are still addressed in the masculine singular to the learner, the “son” in verse 10. For “wicked” refer to 2.22. Bible en français courant says it well: “Do not imitate the conduct of the wicked.” Contemporary English Version has “Don’t follow the bad example of. . ..”

“And do not walk in the way of evil men”: This line is parallel to the first line and has the same sense. “Walk”, unlike the word in verse 12, means to go forward or to advance. However, “walk” is only an adequate rendering if it can be used in a figurative sense, as in verse 12. If not, we may say, for example, “and do not act like evil people” or “do not behave like evil people.” Note that New Revised Standard Version has changed “evil men” to “evildoers” to make it inclusive.

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 4:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 4:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “Do not go towards the people who are wicked/evil or follow the way of sinners.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Do not go on the path of the wicked.
    Don’t behave like they do.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Do- not -follow what the wicked are-doing.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Don’t go to where- those who are-doing evil -are-going and don’t follow what they do.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 4:14

4:14–15

In these two verses, the writer uses six parallel commands to emphasize that the reader should strictly avoid following the behavior of wicked people.

4:14

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

14a Do not set foot on the path of the wicked

14b or walk in the way of evildoers.

In Hebrew, the parallel lines are arranged in the form of a chiasm. The command “do not enter” occurs at the end of 4:14a. The parallel command “do not walk” occurs at the beginning of 4:14b.

14a
On the path of wicked-ones do not enter,

14b and do not walk in the way of evil-ones.

You will need to decide if a chiasm helps to emphasize the need to obey these commands in your language.

4:14a–b

Do not set foot…or walk: These two parallel terms function together to imply a progression or intensification of meaning. The first command is literally “enter” in Hebrew. In this context, it means to start walking.

The second command, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as walk, means “go straight” or “advance.” Here it means “continue walking.” The New American Standard Bible expresses this intensification of meaning as follows:

14a Do not enter the path of the wicked (New American Standard Bible)

14b And do not proceed in the way of evil men. (New American Standard Bible)

path…way: The references to path and way refer to a person’s manner of conduct. If it is not possible to keep the figures of “walking” or “path,” the meaning may be expressed without a figure of speech, as the Contemporary English Version has done:

Don’t follow the bad example of cruel and evil people. (Contemporary English Version)

wicked…evildoers: In some languages, there may not be separate terms for the synonyms wicked and evildoers. If that is true in your language, it is acceptable to use one term.

General Comment on 4:14a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts, as the Contemporary English Version has done (see the preceding quote).

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