Translation commentary on Proverbs 7:7

“I have seen among the simple”: “Simple” translates the same word as in 1.4, where it refers to immature or inexperienced young people.

“I have perceived among the youths”: “Youths” is literally “sons,” which means “young men.”

“A young man without sense”: “Without sense” is literally “lacking heart” as in 6.32. See there for comments.

The repetitions in this verse are such that Contemporary English Version reduces the whole verse to “some foolish young men.” Note that Good News Translation keeps a longer form that moves the focus of attention from the many to the individual who will be followed in the narrative. This change of focus is expressed another way in the translation “I saw young men going along the road. They did not have good sense. But one of them was very stupid. (8) This young man. . ..”

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 7:7)

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

  • Kupsabiny: “There I saw people who were still young. But one there among them was not sensible.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “In a group of many teenagers on the road
    I saw one foolish boy.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “and I saw the young men who know nothing in life. One of them has no understanding.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “On one-occasion which was night, there-I-was looking-down from the window of my house and there were those whom I peered-out-at who were young-unmarried-men who knew nothing (= little knowledge/experience). One of them who was not thinking/reflective, he was walking approaching the corner of the street which was the location of the house of a certain woman who committed-adultery (lit. does-with-men).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 7:7

7:7a

The first two lines of this verse are parallel. Notice the parts that are similar in meaning:

7a
I saw among the simple,

7b
I noticed among the youths,

7c a young man lacking judgment.

The third line describes a specific young man whom the narrator noticed.

I saw…I noticed: The verb I saw refers here to unintentional action. You could make that explicit. For example:

I…happened to see (Contemporary English Version)

The parallel verb, noticed, is more specific. It means “distinguished” or “discerned.” In some languages, it may be possible to indicate this progression from general to specific. For example:

I saw many inexperienced young men, but noticed one foolish fellow in particular. (Good News Translation)

among the simple…among the youths: These phrases describe a group of young men who were naive, immature, and could easily be persuaded to do something foolish.

The word “simple” first occurs in 1:4a.

In some languages, it may be preferable to reorder these two parts, since the youths is a more general category than the simple. See the first meaning line in the Display for 7:7a–b (combined/reordered).

7:7b

a young man lacking judgment: For the words young man, see 1:4b. The phrase lacking judgment indicates here that the young man had very little common sense. He was not able to make good decisions.

The phrase lacking judgment first occurs in 6:32a. For more information, see lacks judgment in the Glossary.

General Comment on 7:7a–c

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

I noticed, in a group of immature young men, one young fellow who had no common sense.

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