Translation commentary on Proverbs 5:13

“I did not listen to the voice of my teachers”: that is, “I did not obey the instruction my teachers gave me” or “I paid no attention to what my teachers said.”

“Or incline my ear . . . instructors”: For “incline . . . ear” see 5.1. “My instructors” is literally “those who instructed me.”

The two lines of this verse are very close in meaning. Translations that often do not repeat two such lines make verse 13 one line; for example, “I paid no attention to my teachers” (Contemporary English Version). See Good News Translation for another handling of this verse.

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 5:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 5:13:

  • Kupsabiny: “Oh, my dear, if I had been attentive I would/should have listened to my teachers.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “I paid no attention to my teachers’ instructions.
    I had no concern for what they said.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “I did- not -listen to my teachers.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Why did I not heed (particle = I certainly should have) those-teaching-me?” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 5:13

5:13

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

13a I did not listen to the voice of my teachers

13b or incline my ear to my mentors.

In Hebrew, these lines are arranged in the form of a chiasm. The parts in 5:13a occur in the opposite order from the parallel parts in 5:13b.

13a
I did not listen to the voice of my teachers,

13b and to my mentors I did not incline my ear.

You should use whatever order is natural in your language.

5:13a–b

I did not listen to the voice…or incline my ear: The first expression, I did not listen to the voice, is a Hebrew idiom. The parallel verb, incline my ear, is literally “turn my ear” (see the note on 4:20b). You may be able to use a different idiom for one or both of these parallel expressions to catch the reader’s attention or add emphasis in your language.

my teachers…my mentors: The word(s) you choose to translate teachers and mentors should be appropriate to describe anyone who gives moral advice or instruction, including the young man’s father. It should not refer only to schoolteachers.

General Comment on 5:13a–b

This verse continues the young man’s words of remorse that began in 5:12. In some languages, the most effective way to do this will be to use statements, as the Berean Standard Bible has done. In other languages, it may be more effective to use rhetorical questions. For example:

Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers? Why didn’t I pay attention to those who gave me instruction? (New Living Translation (1996))

In other languages, it may be preferable to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. Make sure not to lose the emphasis. See the Display for 5:13a–b (combined/reordered) for different ways of doing this.

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