Translation commentary on Proverbs 9:15

“Calling . . . pass by”: This is the same as Wisdom does in verse 3, and also 1.20-21 and 8.1-3.

“Who are going . . . way”: The scene is one of busy people coming and going in the public streets. They are intent upon their own affairs. See Good News Translation.

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 9:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 9:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “(She/it) calls people among those who are passing by, telling them that,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “[She] calls out like this
    to each of the people
    who are going to work
    by way of that road –” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “and calls-out to the ones passing-by, who go to their work.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “and she-calls-to/invites the passersby who are not meddling-with what others are doing.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 9:15

9:15

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

15a calling out to those who pass by,

15b
who make their paths straight.

The Display will use the punctuation of the New International Version (2011) for 9:15b (a comma instead of a period).

9:15a–b

calling out to: This is the same verb that was used to describe what Wisdom’s servants did in 9:3b. It is a call of invitation, directed to people passing by.

those who pass by, who make their paths straight: These two parallel clauses describe people who happen to be walking past her house on their way to a different location and are “minding their own business” (Good News Translation).

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