“Wise men lay up knowledge”: “Wise men” translates the plural of the form used in 1.5 and 9.8-9. “Lay up” is the same verb as translated “store up” in 2.7. (But see below.) For “knowledge” see 1.4. “Lay up knowledge” must often be adjusted in translation because in many languages qualities such as “knowledge” cannot be stored like material objects. We may say, for example, “Wise people gather knowledge as someone gathers grain” or “Wise people never stop learning just like farmers who never stop storing up grain.”

The verb “lay up” may also be interpreted to mean to hide or hold back, according to Toy. In this case the sense is that wise men are cautious in their speech, perhaps holding back something they know in order to avoid trouble. If this understanding is accepted, the parallel in the second line is clear: the constant talk of fools causes destruction. Scott supports Toy in the first line: “Wise men keep their knowledge to themselves.”

“But the babbling of a fool brings ruin near”: “Babbling” translates the Hebrew “mouth” and refers to the words spoken by a foolish person. “A fool” is not to be taken as a demented or insane person but simply as a foolish person, someone who says things without thinking. See verse 8. “Brings ruin near” has the sense that “destruction is present” or “trouble is about to happen.”

We may translate the verse, for example, “If you are wise, you will keep some knowledge to yourself, but if you talk like a fool, you will soon be ruined.”

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 .