SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 2020 – Page 3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:17

1:17

This verse introduces the second reason why the young man should not follow the lifestyle of criminals. It is because criminals are foolish and do things that result in their own destruction.

In Hebrew, this verse begins with the same word that the Berean Standard Bible translated as “For” in 1:16. The Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible translate this word here with “for.” But many other versions (including the Berean Standard Bible and New International Version) omit a connecting word like “for,” because it would wrongly imply that 1:17 gives the reason why sinners are “swift to shed blood” (1:16). The right connection is with 1:15. You may be able to leave the right connection implied, as these versions have done. If the connection is not clear, you may need to make it explicit. For example:

⌊Another reason you should not associate with them is that they will destroy themselves.⌋ It is useless to set a snare…

How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!: There are two main ways to interpret this verse:

(1) The verse means that if the birds are watching, it is useless to spread a net/trap for them, because the birds would avoid it. For example:

When a bird sees a trap being set, it stays away. (New Living Translation (1996))

With this interpretation, the criminals in 1:18 are contrasted with the birds. The birds avoid the traps, but the criminals get caught in their own traps. It is implied that they have even less sense than birds.

(2) The verse means that the birds are stupid. Even if they see someone spreading a net or setting a trap, they will still enter it to get the bait. For example:

They are like a bird that sees the bait but ignores the trap. (Contemporary English Version)

With this interpretation, the criminals in 1:18 are likened to the birds. Both the criminals and the birds get caught in traps. It is implied that they are just as stupid as birds.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions.

spread the net: Scholars have different opinions on what it means to spread the net. Some think that this phrase refers to a bird hunter spreading out a net with grain on it as bait. Others think that it refers to a hunter throwing a net over a bird’s head when it is not watching. You may follow either idea in your translation. If nets are not used in your culture for catching birds, you may use a similar item such as “snare” or “trap” (see the New Living Translation (1996) quote earlier in this note).

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Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:18

1:18

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

18a But they lie in wait for their own blood ;

18b
they ambush their own lives.

1:18a–b

But: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But expresses a contrast between the birds that are too smart to be caught (1:17) and the men who have less sense than birds. Consider how to express the contrast most effectively in your language.

they: This pronoun refers to the same men who are called “sinners” in 1:10.

lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives: In the Hebrew (also in the Berean Standard Bible), the same parallel verbs, lie in wait and ambush are used in 1:18 as in 1:11. This reinforces the irony of the criminals’ situation. They planned to ambush and kill others, but they end up being killed themselves. Some English versions, however, have used the “trap” metaphor because of the immediate contrast with 1:17. For example:

but people like that are setting a trap for themselves, a trap in which they will die (Good News Translation)

You will need to decide what terms will provide better contrast in your language. If you decide to use “net” or “trap,” be sure that your readers understand that this is not a literal trap. It refers to behavior that will result in the death of the people who do it. In some languages, it may be necessary to use one of the following options to make sure that the meaning is clear:

• Use a simile. For example:

But these men ⌊act like people who⌋ set traps and then fall into them themselves! They lie in wait to kill someone else, but they are the ones who die.

• Make the implied contrast with the birds explicit. For example:

But these people ⌊have less sense than birds, because it is as if they⌋ are ambushing themselves. They set traps in which they themselves will die.

• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

But as for these people, they lie in wait to kill someone else. They ⌊do not realize that they⌋ will cause their own death by such actions.

General Comment on 1:18a–b

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

But these ⌊wicked⌋ men will die in the traps they themselves have set for other people.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:19

1:19

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

19a
Such is the fate of all who are greedy,

19b whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.

Both lines state what happens to people who obtain wealth by wrongful means.

1:19a

Such is the fate of all who are greedy: The word Such marks the father’s/writer’s summary or conclusion of the first lesson. His conclusion is that death is the result for anyone who spends his life gaining wealth unjustly, like the criminals described in the preceding verses.

In some languages, a summary or conclusion may be introduced as follows:

So we(dual/incl) understand that…
-or-
What I mean to say is…

Use a natural way in your language to introduce this conclusion.

the fate: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fate can be literally translated as “ways.” Sometimes it refers to a person’s manner of life, but here it refers to the result or outcome of his manner of life.

are greedy: There are different ways to interpret the meaning of these words:

(1) These words refer to people who try to get rich illegally or dishonestly. For example:

Such are the paths of all who seek dishonest gain (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) These words refer broadly to people who are greedy/covetous. For example:

All greedy people end up this way (New Century Version)

(3) These words refer specifically to people who try to gain wealth by violence/murder. For example:

this is what happens to anyone who lives by violence (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

1:19b

whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors: The first word whose refers to the “greedy” who are trying to become wealthy by doing what is wrong. The last word its refers to the wealth that is gained in this way. This meaning is clearly expressed by the New American Bible:

unlawful gain takes away the life of him who acquires it (New American Bible)

General Comment on 1:19a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parts of these two lines. For example:

To summarize, if you get wealth dishonestly, it will take away your life.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:20

Section 1:20–33

Wisdom warns people not to reject her advice

In this section, Wisdom is personified as a woman teacher or prophetess who publicly warns people not to reject her advice. After an introduction (1:20–21), Wisdom begins her speech. In her speech, she scolds foolish people for ignoring her teaching (1:22–27). She then describes what will happen to such people (1:28–31). She concludes her speech by contrasting the fate of fools with the happiness of those who obey her (1:32–33).

In the verses that contain Wisdom’s speech, the Notes use a capital letter for Wisdom, except where a quoted version has small letters. The Display provides more than one option. You may use either option in your language, depending on what is appropriate in each context. See the note at Section 8:1–36 for more information about using a capital letter to indicate personification.

Some other headings for this section are:

Wisdom Speaks (New Century Version)
-or-
Warning Against Rejecting Wisdom (New International Version)
-or-
Wisdom’s invitation to people to listen to her advice

Paragraph 1:20–21

The four lines of these two verses are parallel. The way Wisdom gives her speech is described as: “calls out,” “lifts her voice,” “cries aloud,” and “makes her speech.” All of these phrases refer to the same action.

The four places where Wisdom speaks also overlap, since they are all places where crowds of people would be located. The public square was located inside the entrance to the city gates, and the streets of the city spread out from the gates.

The two verses are also arranged chiastically. In 1:20a–b, Wisdom’s location occurs at the end of each clause. In 1:21a–b, her location occurs at the beginning of each clause.

See the General Comment on 1:20–21 at the end of 1:21a–b for a way to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts of both verses.

1:20

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

20a
Wisdom calls out in the street,

20b
she lifts her voice in the square ;

1:20a–b

Wisdom…she: In this section Wisdom is personified as a woman. This may be partly because the word translated “wisdom” here is a feminine noun in Hebrew. Identifying Wisdom as a woman also provides a contrast with the adulterous woman in later chapters.

In some languages, a literal translation of this personification may be difficult to understand. Here are some other ways to translate it:

• Change the personification to a simile. For example:

Wisdom is like a woman shouting in the street (New Century Version)

• In some cultures, people might consider it offensive to refer to wisdom as a “woman who calls out in the streets,” because only rude or immoral women do that. In languages with gender-neutral pronouns, it is also impossible to specify the feminine pronoun “she.” In either of these cases, you may be able to refer to wisdom in a general way (not specifically male or female). For example:

The one whose name is Wisdom calls out in the streets. He/She/It speaks in a loud voice…

If you choose this solution, make sure that the translation does not refer to an actual person with the name Wisdom.

• In some languages, it may be possible to use a capital letter or a proper name marker for Wisdom.

• It may also be possible to use a respectful title for a woman. For example:

Mother Wisdom (UBS Handbook)

If the personification is still not clear in your language, you may want to add a footnote. A suggested footnote is:

In 1:20–21 wisdom is described as a woman who has something important to say to people. Her speech is in 1:22–33.

calls out…lifts her voice: These two expressions would be appropriate for an open-air preacher who wants his message to be heard. The term(s) you choose should not indicate shouting, such as the shouting of a drunk or angry person.

in the street…in the square:
The phrase in the street refers to the outdoors, in contrast to inside the house, where the father was instructing his son. The phrase, in the square refers to wide areas inside the gates of a walled city. These areas were used for public gatherings, for buying and selling, and for settling disputes. Other ways to translate this phrase include:

marketplaces (Good News Translation)
-or-
public places (Revised English Bible)
-or-
wherever crowds gather (Contemporary English Version)

The Contemporary English Version expression is good because it makes explicit the function of a public square in this context.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:21

1:21

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

21a
in the main concourse she cries aloud,

21b
at the city gates she makes her speech :

1:21a–b

in the main concourse…at the city gates: The phrase in the main concourse refers to the place where the streets converged, at the entrance of the city gates. So these two phrases refer to the same area as the “public squares.”

If your readers will not understand city gates as a place where people gathered, you may want to add a footnote. Here is one possible wording for a footnote:

Inside the gates/entrance of the city was a wide place where people gathered to talk and to do business.

General Comment on 1:20–21

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

Wisdom ⌊goes⌋ outside to the wide-areas/plaza near the gates of the city, where people gather ⌊to conduct business⌋ . She raises her voice to speak to them.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:22

Paragraph 1:22–27

1:22

This verse contains three parallel lines. Wisdom rebukes three similar kinds of people for three similar kinds of unwise behavior.

22a
How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways ?

22b
How long will scoffers delight in their scorn

22c and fools hate knowledge ?

1:22a–c

How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?: These are rhetorical questions. Wisdom asks these questions to denounce or rebuke simple ones, scoffers, and fools. She urges them to stop their behavior. Some other ways to translate a rebuke of this nature are:

• Use a different question. For example:

Why do you simple ones continue to love your simple ways?

• Use a statement. For example:

You simple people must stop loving your simple ways.

In the Hebrew text, the first line uses the pronoun “you(plur).” The next two lines use “they” (they delight in, they hate). Because of this change of reference, there are different interpretations as to whom Wisdom is addressing:

(1) Wisdom is addressing “simple ones, scoffers, and fools.” For example:

How long will you gullible people love being so gullible? How long will you mockers find joy in your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge? (God’s Word)

(2) Wisdom is addressing only “simple ones” directly, though she comments about the other two classes of people. For example:

How long will you simpletons love naiveté? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? (NET Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with a majority of scholars. In 1:23 Wisdom again uses the pronoun “you” to refer to the ones she rebuked. It seems unlikely that Wisdom would appeal only to the simple, and not to scoffers and the fools.

All scholars agree that three classes of people are mentioned in this verse. However, these classes overlap. For example:

You fools, how long will you be foolish? How long will you make fun of wisdom and hate knowledge? (New Century Version)

1:22a

How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways?: For the meaning of simple ones, see the note on 1:4a. However, the context in 1:22 indicates that these inexperienced youths have already rejected the advice given to them and have become total fools. That is probably the reason that the Good News Translation translated this word as “inexperienced” in 1:4a, but as “foolish” in this verse. The New Century Version is similar with “fools.” One way to express both meanings in this question is:

You foolish people, why do you want to remain naive?

1:22b

scoffers: In Hebrew, this word refers to people who scoff at or make fun of someone or something. A “scoffer,” also called a “mocker,” is arrogant as well as scornful. But the focus of this word is on the disdainful way that a scoffer treats other people. It is not mainly on the scoffer’s feeling of pride.

The Hebrew text does not specify what these people scoff at or mock. If it is necessary to make explicit what they mock, some options are:

making fun of knowledge (Good News Translation)
-or-
make fun of wisdom (New Century Version)
-or-
mock ⌊good advice⌋
-or-
scoff at ⌊other people⌋

1:22c

fools: In Hebrew, this word for “fool” (kǝsil) refers to someone who is a moral fool, not someone who is uneducated or who lacks intelligence. He does what is stupid and wrong because he is mentally lazy and is satisfied with himself. He does not understand the need to change his own foolish behavior and does not want to think about the consequences. Other ways to translate this word are:

⌊complacent⌋ fool
-or-
⌊stupid⌋ fool

hate knowledge: The verb translated by the Berean Standard Bible as hate means to strongly dislike or loathe. It also includes the idea of rejecting the thing that is hated. Another way to translate the phrase hate knowledge is:

refuse to learn

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:23

1:23

This verse consists of an exhortation followed by two parallel consequences that have similar meaning. The New Revised Standard Version has been used as the source line, because it follows the recommended interpretation.

23a Give heed to my reproof; (New Revised Standard Version)

23b
I will pour out my thoughts to you ; (New Revised Standard Version)

23c
I will make my words known to you. (New Revised Standard Version)

1:23a–c

(New Revised Standard Version) Give heed to my reproof; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you: There are two ways to interpret this verse:

(1) Wisdom invites her audience to respond to her warning. If they respond, there will be good consequences. For example:

Pay attention to my warning. To you I will pour out my heart and tell you what I have to say. (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) Wisdom tells her audience what the good consequences would have been if they had responded (but they had not responded). For example:

If only you had listened when I corrected you, I would have told you what’s in my heart; I would have told you what I am thinking. (New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions. It is clear from the context that Wisdom is still willing to give advice and knowledge if the people will listen to her.

1:23a

(New Revised Standard Version) Give heed: In Hebrew, this verb is literally “turn/return.” In this context, it means “respond,” “listen” or “pay attention.”

(New Revised Standard Version) to my reproof: The word reproof usually indicates verbal correction or rebuke. In many languages, it may be more natural to express these ideas as verbs. For example:

Listen when I reprimand you (Good News Translation)

1:23b

(New Revised Standard Version) I will pour out my thoughts to you: The Hebrew word ruaḥ that the New Revised Standard Version translates as thoughts is literally “spirit.” But the verb that the New Revised Standard Version translates here as pour out usually means to communicate or express a person’s thoughts, feelings, and attitudes. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

I let you know how I feel
-or-
I will tell you what is in my heart.

1:23c

(New Revised Standard Version) I will make my words known to you: The phrase my words refers here to the thoughts or decisions that Wisdom intends to tell them. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

what I think (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
my knowledge (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 1:23a–c

In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder the parts of this verse so that the exhortation comes last. For example:

23b How I long to express my feelings to you 23c and make known to you what is in my thoughts. 23a So listen to my rebuke/reprimand to you.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:24

1:24–27

In the four lines of 1:24–25, Wisdom gives four parallel reasons for the consequences in 1:26–27. In versions like the Berean Standard Bible, New International Version or the New Revised Standard Version, these verses form a single long sentence of the following form:

Since/Because you did A and B, and since/because you did C and D, I will do X and Y.

In some languages, the reason-consequence relationship may need to be expressed in shorter sentences. For example, the New Century Version expresses this relationship as follows:

You did A; you did B. You did C and D. So I will do X and Y.

It is clear from the context that Wisdom’s audience has refused her invitation repeatedly over a long period of time. In some languages, this may need to be made explicit through reduplication of the verbs or in some other way.

1:24

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

24a Because you refused my call,

24b and no one took my outstretched hand,

1:24a–b

my call…my outstretched hand: The meaning of the gesture my outstretched hand is parallel to the words my call in 1:24a. Both parallel parts refer to Wisdom’s invitation for people to come. In some languages, this gesture may not be understood correctly. Some other ways to translate the gesture are:

• Translate the gesture and make the meaning explicit. For example:

I reached out my hand to invite you.

• Translate the meaning without the gesture. For example:

I have been…inviting you to come (Good News Translation)

You will need to decide which translation option expresses the meaning most effectively in your language.

1:24b

hand: In Hebrew, the word hand includes everything from the elbow to the fingertips.

General Comment on 1:24a–b

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

You completely ignored me and refused to listen (Contemporary English Version)

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 2020

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:17

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:18

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:19

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:20

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:21

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:22

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:23

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:24

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