Translation commentary on Proverbs 8:14

This verse is similar to Job 12.13, in which wisdom, might, counsel, and understanding are said to be with God. See also Isa 11.2. In our verse it is Wisdom who claims to possess these qualities.

“I have counsel and sound wisdom”: “Counsel”, which refers to advice, guidance, or planning, was first used in 1.25 and 30, where Wisdom’s guidance is only for individuals. However, this term is also used in 2 Sam 17.7 and 1 Kgs 1.12 in reference to political and military advice. It has this kind of political sense here. “Sound wisdom” refers to wise dealings in everyday, practical matters. A translation that brings out the sense of these terms says “I give good thinking to people and I help them to do good work.”

“I have insight . . . strength”: “Insight” (see 3.5) is the capacity to determine the true nature of things and usually has a sense close to that of “intelligence.” The word rendered “strength” normally is used of the political or military power of kings, as in 2 Kgs 18.20.

The text of the second line in Hebrew is strange, and because of this it is translated differently by the various versions. It is literally “I insight to me and strength.” “To me” is the same expression that begins the first line, which is usually rendered “I have” or “belongs to me.” The most common rendering, as found in Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version, may be regarded as a translation of the Hebrew, as also Revised English Bible and Good News Translation. A Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia footnote suggests a variant Hebrew text, literally “to me insight to me strength,” which could be translated the same way. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, however, which rates this line as “B,” makes two recommendations for its translation:

(1) “I am understanding/insight; to me belongs the power,” or
(2) “I, Understanding/Insight, possess the power.”
The rendering of New Jerusalem Bible “I am perception: power is mine” apparently understands the text in this way.

We may translate verse 14 by staying fairly close to the form of the text and saying, for example: “I give guidance and deal wisely. I have intelligence and power.” Or: “I plan ahead and understand things. I see the way things are and I am powerful.”

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 8:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 8:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “I counsel/advise and reconcile people in a good way. I am understanding and I have power/strength.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Counsel and decision-making
    come from me.
    Insight and power are mine.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “I am good in counseling and have a right wisdom. I have understanding and power.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I-am-powerful and coming-from me are good advice and righteous thoughts.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

1st person pronoun referring to God (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also pronoun for “God”.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 8:14

8:14–17

In these verses, the Hebrew pronouns that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “mine,” “I,” and “me” occur in an emphatic position. In some languages, this emphasis may be expressed by saying “It is I who…” or “I am the one who….” For example, a translation of 8:14 may say:

I am the one who gives good advice so that people are able to make successful plans. I also am the source of intelligence and power.

8:14

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

14a
Counsel and sound judgment are mine ;

14b
I have insight and strength.

8:14a–b

are mine; I have: In this verse and in 8:15, Wisdom claims to possess the qualities or abilities that rulers need in order to govern well. These verses imply that Wisdom not only has these qualities herself, but that she is the one who provides them to rulers. In some languages, it may be helpful to make this explicit. For example:

From me come advice and ability. (Revised English Bible)

8:14a

Counsel: The word Counsel is a general word meaning “advice,” but in this context, it refers mainly to political and military advice. It also indicates the ability to think about a situation and make good plans. (Notice the Good News Translation translation: “I make plans.”) So it has a very similar meaning to “sound judgment.”

sound judgment: This second term (tušiyyah in Hebrew) means “competence” in this context. It describes someone who is able to think clearly and practically to decide what action should be taken in a particular situation.

8:14b

I have insight and strength: The word insight means “intelligence.”

The word strength refers to political or military power.

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