Translation commentary on Proverbs 7:1

“My son . . . words”: See 2.1.

“Treasure up . . . you”: See 2.1.

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 7:1)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 7:1:

  • Kupsabiny: “My child/son, listen to my words, and fix in the head what I want for you.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “O my son, listen carefully to what I say.
    Keep in memory
    what I have told you to do.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Child, obey what I say to you (sing.). Plant it in your (sing.) mind and” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “My child, be-thorough/diligent to listen and do not forget my commands to you (sing.).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 7:1

Section 7:1–27

Tenth lesson: Here is an example of a young man who was seduced by a married woman

This lesson is another warning to avoid adultery. It begins with an appeal that the son pay attention to his father’s advice. This advice will protect him from being seduced by an adulteress (7:1–5). The main part of the lesson has the form of a first person narrative. The narrator tells how he observed a young man being seduced (7:6–23). First the story focuses on the young man (7:6–9), then it describes the adulteress (7:10–12) and her enticing words (7:13–20). Finally it tells how the young man yielded to the temptation (7:21–23). The lesson concludes with an appeal that the son follow his father’s advice rather than be seduced by the adulteress, because involvement with her will lead to death (7:24–27).

Some other headings for this section are:

Warning Against the Adulteress (New International Version)
-or-
The story about an adulteress who tempted a young man

Paragraph 7:1–5

The writer appeals to his son to remember his teaching (7:1–3) and to treat wisdom like a sister in order to avoid being seduced (7:4–5).

7:1

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

1a My son, keep my words

1b and treasure my commandments within you.

7:1a

My son: For My son, see the note on 1:8a.

keep my words: The verb keep means “obey.” The same word occurs in 4:4b and 7:2a. See the note on 4:4b.

7:1b

and treasure my commandments within you: See the note on these identical words in 2:1b.

General Comment on 7:1a–b

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

My son, pay close attention and don’t forget what I tell you to do. (Contemporary English Version)

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