Translation commentary on Proverbs 5:12

“And you say, “How I hated discipline””: This may be taken as a statement or as a “Why did I?” rhetorical question as in Good News Translation. Either way the quotation is to be understood as said with remorse and regret. The word “How” in “How I hated . . .” has the sense of “How bad for me that I. . .” or “Too bad that I did not love. . ..” “Discipline” translates the word rendered “instruction” in 1.2 and “discipline” in 3.11. Here the sense is “correction.”

“My heart despised reproof!”: “My heart” matches “I” in the first line and represents the thinking, reflective part of the personality. “Despised” renders a word meaning to scorn or treat with contempt, and matches “hated” in line 1. Refer to 1.7, 30 for “despise”. “Reproof” is as in 1.23, and is similar in meaning to “discipline”. Revised English Bible translates verses 11-12: “When you shrink to skin and bone you will end by groaning and saying, ‘Oh, why did I hate correction and set my heart against reproof?'” Contemporary English Version has “(11) When it’s all over, your body will waste away, as you groan (12) and shout, ‘I hated advice and correction!'”

In some languages translators feel that a short opening expression of feeling is required before the string of questions or statements in the speech that runs through this verse and the next two. For example, one translation begins, “I am so stupid! Why was my head big, and I would not let others put me straight?”

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 5:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 5:12:

  • Kupsabiny: “saying that, ‘Oh please, what ate me/went wrong with me so I did not realize these words/matters, and why did my head become dry/hard on me like this (Why was I so stubborn)!” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then you will say, "Why was I not able to learn at that time?
    Why was I not able to accept correction from anyone?” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “And you (plur.) will-say, ‘It is because I did- not -pay-attention to the correction/[lit. strengthening] of my behavior.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “And you (sing.) will-say, ‘Why did I refuse/dislike to-be-taught and advised/admonished?” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 5:12

5:12–13

In these two verses, the young man admits the reasons for his present condition in the form of a lament. A lament is an expression of grief or remorse. This lament expresses his regret and self-condemnation.

5:12

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

12a and you will say, “How I hated discipline,

12b and my heart despised reproof !

In Hebrew, these lines are arranged in the form of a chiasm. The parts in 5:12a occur in the opposite order from the parallel parts in 5:12b.

12a and you will say, “How I hated discipline,

12b and reproof my heart despised !

Arrange the parallel parts in a natural order in your language.

5:12a–b

hated…despised: For despised, see the note on 1:7b. To “despise reproof” means to scorn or reject it.

discipline…reproof: For discipline, see the note on 1:2a. For reproof, see the note on 1:23a. See also 3:11a–b, where the same Hebrew terms are used together in a context that is similar to this one.

5:12a

and you will say, “How I hated discipline: Some other ways to express feelings of this nature are:

• Use a rhetorical question. For example:

Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers? (New Living Translation (2004))

• Use an exclamation of remorse or self-blame. For example:

What a fool I am! I hated advice!

General Comment on 5:12a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. See the Display for 5:12a–b (combined/reordered).

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