Translation commentary on Proverbs 1:28

In the Hebrew text of verses 28-32, “they” replaces “you [plural].” The pronoun refers to the people mentioned in verse 22. Some modern versions keep the “you” form in these verses, and this is recommended to translators.

“Then they will call upon me”: This line is the reverse of the first line of verse 24. “Then” means at the time they call in their trouble, that is, after the distress and anguish take hold of them. “Call upon me” means “to call on me to help them” or “ask me for help.” Note that Good News Translation has “call for wisdom.”

“But I will not answer”: “Answer” must be rendered in a way that is suitable for the way “call . . . me” is used. In some languages this will be, for example, “I will not listen,” “I will pay no attention to you,” “I will not hear you,” or “I will not come.”

“They will seek me diligently”: “Seek” matches “call” in the previous line. “Seek . . . diligently” translates a word meaning to look for intently and is used, for example, in Job 7.21 of God seeking Job after he has died. Good News Translation says “look for me everywhere.” The thought of verse 28 is expressed elsewhere in Jer 11.11; Micah 3.4; and John 7.34.

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 1:28)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 1:28:

  • Kupsabiny: “You (plur.) will call me, but I will not answer anything, you will look for me and you will not find me.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “At that time you will call on me.
    and I will not answer.
    You will search for me,
    but you will not be able to find me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then you (plur.) will-call to me, but I will- not -answer you (plur.).
    You (plur.) will-look for me, but you (plur.) will- not -find me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “In-the-future (lit. later) you will request my help but I will not heed, you will search-for-me but you will not be-able-to-find me.” (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 1:28

Paragraph 1:28–31

In the previous paragraph, both the Hebrew text and the English versions use “you” pronouns. These pronouns indicate that Wisdom is directly addressing the foolish people in her audience. In paragraph 1:28–31, the Hebrew text changes from “you” to “they” pronouns. There are two ways to interpret this pronoun change:

(1) Some versions change from “you” to “they” pronouns. This change implies that Wisdom is now talking about the fools rather than addressing them directly. For example:

Then they will call me… (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) Other versions continue to use “you” pronouns. This implies that Wisdom continues to speak to the fools that she addressed in 1:22–27. For example:

Then you will call to me… (New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most English versions and scholars. Some scholars think that the change of pronouns indicates the climax of this section. The change of pronouns may also imply that Wisdom is talking about the fools to a different audience. This audience may be the readers of the book or the “son” mentioned in 1:8 and 1:15. It is also possible that Wisdom summarizes in her own mind what she has just announced to the fools in her audience.

In many languages, it will be necessary to indicate explicitly that Wisdom is no longer addressing the same audience. Some ways to do this are to use one or more of the following options:

• Put quotation marks at the end of 1:27.

• Supply a statement at the end of 1:27 that Wisdom is no longer addressing the same audience. For example:

That is what Wisdom said to those foolish people.

• Start 1:28 with a clause that indicates a new quote. For example:

Then Wisdom said, “…

• Add a footnote that explains that Wisdom is no longer addressing the same audience.

1:28

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

28a Then they will call on me, but I will not answer ;

28b
they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.

1:28a

Then they will call on me: The Hebrew text does not specify why they will call to Wisdom. Since the people were in distress, they will probably call for help. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this information explicit. For example:

You will ask for my help (Contemporary English Version)

1:28b

they will earnestly seek me: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as earnestly seek me means to search for with great effort. This meaning is accurately expressed as follows:

they will seek me diligently (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
they will look eagerly for me (New Jerusalem Bible)

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