Translation commentary on Proverbs 4:4

“He taught me, and said to me”: This line is introductory to the quoted material that begins in the second line. Some translate it as “This is what he would say” or “Here is what he used to teach me.”

“Let your heart hold fast my words” is literally “Let your heart keep my words.” “Heart” is used to represent the mind and intellect. In the Hebrew it is the “heart” that keeps things in mind. Refer to 2.2. We may also say, for example, “Keep my words in your thoughts,” “Keep my words in your memory,” or “Remember the teachings you learn from me.”

“Keep my commandments, and live”: This line is identical to one in 7.2. It expresses the same thought as the previous line, with “my commandments” replacing “my words”. “Commandments” is the same word as used in 2.1 and 3.1, where it refers to the instruction, orders, or teaching given by the person who is wise. The result of keeping these lessons is life, which here, as in 3.2, refers to a long and happy life. In some languages the command to “live” addressed to someone who is already alive is nonsense. In such cases it is better to say, for example, “and live a long life” or “and live a happy life.”

In some languages “my commandments” must be expressed in the same way as “my words”. In such cases the two lines are often combined to say, for example, “Put my words well in your thinking and follow them, and you will live well.”

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 4:4)

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

  • Kupsabiny: “My father told me that, ‘Dear son, memorize/remember these words of mine and keep my will/desires, then/there you will live.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “This is what my father taught me —
    "Remember what I tell you, never forget it.
    Do as I say. You will have life.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “My father taught me. He said to me, ‘Keep in your (sing.) heart what I am teaching you (sing.). Obey my commands to you (sing.) so-that you (sing.) will-continue to live.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “My father said in advising me, ‘Don’t forget what I say. Obey my commands/instructions so-that you will-live-and-live (connotes long and prosperous life).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

2nd person pronoun with low register (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between. One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used anata (あなた) is typically used when the speaker is humbly addressing another person.

In these verses, however, omae (おまえ) is used, a cruder second person pronoun, that Jesus for instance chooses when chiding his disciples. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also first person pronoun with low register and third person pronoun with low register.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 4:4

4:4

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

4a he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words ;

4b
keep my commands and you will live.

4:4a

taught me and said: In the context of 4:3, the verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as taught implies that the father taught his son over a period of time. Some English versions make this explicit. For example:

would teach me (Good News Translation)
-or-
used to teach me (God’s Word)

In some languages, it may be more natural to start this verse with a new sentence. For example:

⌊During that time,⌋ my father used to teach me.

Let your heart lay hold of my words: In Hebrew, the heart refers primarily to the mind and intellect, though it also includes the emotions. In other languages, a different part of the body, mind/liver/stomach, may be used instead.

lay hold of: In Hebrew, the verb lay hold of literally means “grasp” or “hold firmly.” It is used figuratively here. It indicates that the son should hold the father’s instruction firmly in his mind. Two ways to translate this clause are:

• Use a figure of speech. For example:

“Cling to my words wholeheartedly. (God’s Word)
-or-
“Hold on to my words with all your heart. (New Century Version)

• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

“Keep my words in your thoughts.
-or-
“Remember what I say and never forget it. (Good News Translation)

4:4b

keep my commands: In this context, the Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as keep means “obey.” The same word occurs in 7:1a and 7:2a. The word commands occurs in 2:1b. Some other ways to translate this advice are:

Keep my commandments (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Obey my commands (God’s Word)
-or-
Follow my commands (New Living Translation (2004))

and you will live: The word and introduces the motivation or intended result of paying attention to the father’s commands. The clause you will live implies a long and prosperous life. Other ways to connect these clauses are:

Obey my commands so that you may live. (God’s Word)
-or-
Always obey what I command you, and then you will live.
-or-
Following my commands will result in ⌊a long and prosperous⌋ life.

General Comment on 4:4a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel lines. For example:

If you follow my teachings and keep them in mind, you will live. (Contemporary English Version)

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