wisdom ("heart wisdom")

In the Tzeltal translation for the dialectal variant of Highland Tzeltal (Biblia Tzeltal yu’un Oxchuc soc Tenejapa, 2001) the translation team used three different words to translate the Hebrew term that is translated as “wisdom” or “wise” in English. For the verses referenced here, it uses p’ijil-o’tanil or “heart wisdom.”

For the complete story and more background, please see wisdom (Proverbs).

forget

The Hebrew, Latin, Ge’ez, and Greek that is translated as “forget” in English is translated in Noongar as dwangka-anbangbat, lit. “ear-lose.” (Source: Portions of the Holy Bible in the Nyunga language of Australia, 2018).

See also remember and forget (Japanese honorifics).

wisdom

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Ge’ez, Latin, and Greek that is translated as “wisdom” in English is rendered in various ways:

  • Amganad Ifugao / Tabasco Chontal: “(big) mind”
  • Bulu / Yamba: “heart-thinking”
  • Tae’: “cleverness of heart” (source for this and all above: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
  • Palauan: “bright spirit (innermost)” (source: Bratcher / Hatton)
  • Ixcatlán Mazatec: “with your best/biggest thinking” (source: Robert Bascom)
  • Noongar: dwangka-boola, lit. “ear much” (source: Portions of the Holy Bible in the Nyunga language of Australia, 2018 — see also remember)
  • Kwere “to know how to live well” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Dobel: “their ear holes are long-lasting” (in Acts 6:3) (source: Jock Hughes)
  • Gbaya: iŋa-mgbara-mɔ or “knowing-about-things” (note that in comparison to that, “knowledge” is translated as iŋa-mɔ or “knowing things”) (source: Philip Noss in The Bible Translator 2001, p. 114ff. )
  • Chichewa: nzeru, meaning both “knowledge” and “wisdom” (source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Uma: “clearness” (source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Kako: “heart thinking” (source: Reyburn 2002, p. 190)

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a hand gesture referring to God to indicate a human quality to communicate that wisdom does not originate from man but is linked to and connected with the fear of God (source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group):


“Wisdom” in Hungarian Sign Language (source )

See also wisdom (Proverbs) and knowledge.

Translation commentary on Proverbs 4:5

In verse 5 Revised Standard Version, but not New Revised Standard Version, has reversed the order of the Hebrew lines to obtain more clarity of thought. The Handbook normally follows the order of Revised Standard Version, but in this case follows the Hebrew order.

“Get wisdom; get insight”: The repetition emphasizes the importance the speaker attaches to these two qualities. It is not necessary to repeat the verb, unless that will give the sense of urgency in the line. We may say, for example, “Get wisdom and insight” or “Obtain wisdom and understanding.” In some languages this line will require other verbs, for example, “Learn to be wise and learn to understand.” If “understand” requires an object, it may be possible to say, for example, “and understand what I teach you.”

“Do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth”: This line reinforces what is said in the second line of verse 2. “Turn away from” means to abandon or give up. “The words of my mouth” is a figurative way of saying “What I have taught you” or “my instructions.”

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 4:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 4:5:

  • Kupsabiny: “You should get/find wisdom and become a person who realizes/has understanding. Do not forget and do not deviate/turn away from my words,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Get wisdom, get foresight.
    Don’t forget my words,
    and don’t forsake them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Try that you (sing.) can-possess wisdom and understanding. Do- not -forget what I say to you (sing.), and you (sing.) do- not -stay-away from it.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Gain wisdom and understanding and don’t turn-a-deaf-ear-to and forget my advice.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 4:5

4:5

Notice the parallelism. The two positive commands and two negative commands are all similar in meaning.

5a
Get wisdom, get understanding ;

5b
do not forget my words or turn from them.

4:5a

Get wisdom, get understanding: In this context, the commands to Get wisdom and get understanding imply that the son should acquire wisdom and understanding by learning what the father teaches. Another way to translate these commands is:

Learn to be wise and develop good judgment (New Living Translation (1996))

understanding: This word last occurred in 4:1b.

4:5b

do not forget…or turn from them: The verb turn is used here in the figurative sense of turning aside from a path. This second verb has a stronger meaning than the first. The action of forgetting may be unintentional; turning aside is deliberate.

In some languages, it may not be possible to keep the figure of turning from a person’s words. Another way to translate the meaning without using the figure of speech is:

do not…ignore what I say (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 4:5a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to give the negative commands first. For example:

Do not forget or ⌊intentionally⌋ ignore my words, but rather try to become wise and to develop understanding.

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