Translation commentary on Proverbs 1:31

Verse 31 states a consequence of the fools’ refusal to be corrected by Wisdom. “Therefore” translates the common Hebrew connector. A fuller expression is “On account of all this. . ..”

“Eat the fruit of their way” is an idiomatic way of saying that people must suffer the consequences of their conduct. Many translations keep the literal expression, but some exceptions are Good News Translation “So then, you will get what you deserve,” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy and Bible en français courant “You [plural] will suffer the consequences of your conduct.” On the other hand some languages keep the idiom by saying “Their acts bear fruit and they will have to eat them.”

In languages in which this idiom will create misunderstandings, it is advisable to avoid the figurative language and follow Good News Translation, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, or Bible en français courant. Other idioms that are quite commonly used in this kind of context are “you will get the pay [or, reward] for all your bad behavior” and “you will reap the harvest of your bad behavior.”

“And be sated with their own devices”: “Be sated” means to be filled or gratified to the point of being stuffed. “Devices” here refers to mental activities such as evil plans, schemes, or intentions that may or may not become actions. New Jerusalem Bible has “So they will have to eat the fruits of their own ways of life, and choke themselves with their own scheming,” Contemporary English Version “Now you will eat the fruit of what you have done, until you are stuffed full with your own schemes.” Bible en français courant has “You will suffer the consequences of your conduct, you will be filled to the point of disgust by the results of your plots.”

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 1:31)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 1:31:

  • Kupsabiny: “You yourselves will meet the thing you were looking for.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “As you have done,
    so it will be done to you.
    And as a result of your work
    you will experience trouble.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Therefore you (plur.) will-harvest the fruit of what you (plur.) are-doing and are-planning bad.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Now, you will harvest the fruit (understood figuratively as result) of what you have-been-doing until you are-sick-of-it.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 1:31

1:31

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

31a So they will eat the fruit of their own way,

31b and be filled with their own devises.

This verse gives the consequences/results of the behavior in 1:29–30.

1:31a

So they will eat the fruit of their own way: The clause they will eat the fruit of their own way is a figure of speech. It means “they will suffer the consequences of their conduct/behavior.”

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

• Keep the figure of speech, but make explicit part of the meaning. For example, the New Living Translation (2004) makes explicit the words “bitter” and “living”:

Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way (New Living Translation (2004))

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

So then, you will get what you deserve. (Good News Translation)

• Use a different figure of speech with a similar meaning. For example:

Therefore, since you chose to plant evil, you will have to harvest the bitter crop that it bears.

1:31b

and be filled with their own devices: In Hebrew, this expression is literally “be filled from their schemes.” There are two ways to interpret this expression:

(1) The phrase “the fruit” from 31a does not apply. This line describes a parallel but different consequence to the behavior in 1:29–30. It means “filled to the point of disgust with their own plans.” For example:

until you are stuffed full with your own schemes (Contemporary English Version)

(2) The phrase “the fruit” from 31a does apply. This line has a similar meaning to the first line, and it means “filled with the bitter consequences that their plans have produced.” For example:

you will get what you planned for others (New Century Version)

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

In some languages, it may be clearer to translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

your own actions will make you sick (Good News Translation)

devices: Another translation for devices is:

what you planned for others (New Century Version)

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