wisdom

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Ge’ez, Latin, and Greek that is translated as “wisdom” in English is rendered in various ways:

  • Amganad Ifugao / Tabasco Chontal: “(big) mind”
  • Bulu / Yamba: “heart-thinking”
  • Tae’: “cleverness of heart” (source for this and all above: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
  • Palauan: “bright spirit (innermost)” (source: Bratcher / Hatton)
  • Ixcatlán Mazatec: “with your best/biggest thinking” (source: Robert Bascom)
  • Noongar: dwangka-boola, lit. “ear much” (source: Portions of the Holy Bible in the Nyunga language of Australia, 2018 — see also remember)
  • Kwere “to know how to live well” (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Dobel: “their ear holes are long-lasting” (in Acts 6:3) (source: Jock Hughes)
  • Gbaya: iŋa-mgbara-mɔ or “knowing-about-things” (note that in comparison to that, “knowledge” is translated as iŋa-mɔ or “knowing things”) (source: Philip Noss in The Bible Translator 2001, p. 114ff. )
  • Chichewa: nzeru, meaning both “knowledge” and “wisdom” (source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Uma: “clearness” (source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Kako: “heart thinking” (source: Reyburn 2002, p. 190)

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a hand gesture referring to God to indicate a human quality to communicate that wisdom does not originate from man but is linked to and connected with the fear of God (source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group):


“Wisdom” in Hungarian Sign Language (source )

See also wisdom (Proverbs) and knowledge.

Translation commentary on Sirach 10:26

Do not make a display of your wisdom when you do your work: In ancient Israel wisdom was a term that included more than intelligence or knowledge. It also applied to technical skills; this is how Good News Translation interprets its meaning here. This line could also be rendered “When you do your job, don’t make a big show of how good you are at it.” The author is warning against being a show-off, not against doing one’s work well.

New English Bible has a different interpretation of this line: “Do not be too clever to do a day’s work,” that is, “Don’t think you are so smart that you don’t have to work for a living” (similarly Contemporary English Version). This is possible, and it does tie in very well with verse 27, but we suggest that translators follow the more customary interpretation of Good News Translation and Revised Standard Version.

Nor glorify yourself at a time when you are in want: This seems to be warning against putting on a big show about how hard things are going for you, how poor you are. We should not call undue attention to ourselves when things are going well or when things are going badly. Good News Translation may be off a little by rendering at a time when you are in want as “when you are in trouble.” It sounds like either you have done something wrong or people think you have. It would be better to say “when you are having troubles.” In want seems to limit the reference to financial need, but the Greek noun here has a broader meaning than that.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• When you do your job, don’t try to show others how good you are at it. And don’t try to put on a big show [or, call undue attention to yourself] when you are having troubles.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Sirach. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.