Translation commentary on Proverbs 13:20

The sense of this saying is clearly that both wisdom and stupidity are learned from the company a person keeps.

“He who walks with wise men becomes wise”: For “walks” in the sense of associating with people see 1.15. New Revised Standard Version translates “Whoever walks with. . ..” “Walks with” is often rendered “keeps company with” (see Good News Translation). “Wise men” refers to people who have wisdom or who are wise, not exclusively male adults.

“But the companion of fools will suffer harm”: “Companion” refers to an associate or friend. “The companion of fools” is a person who goes about with or makes close friends with “fools” or people who act stupidly. “Suffers harm” translates the same expression used in 11.15, where Revised Standard Version translates “will smart for it.” See there for comments.

Contemporary English Version translates this verse “Wise friends make you wise, but you hurt yourself by going around with fools.”

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 13:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 13:20:

  • Kupsabiny: “A person who sits with wise people, becomes wise,
    but he who goes around in the company of foolish people suffers.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He who associates with wise people
    becomes wise.
    He who associates with fools
    destroys himself.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If you (sing.) join with the wise, you (sing.) will-become wise also, but if you (sing.) join the fools, you (sing.) will-suffer.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The one-who-companions-with a wise-person, he also becomes-intelligent/wise, but one who accompanies-with a foolish-one, hardship is what he will experience.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Those who habitually associate with wise people become wise;
    those who are close friends of/associate with foolish people will regret it/be ruined.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 13:20

13:20

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

20a
He who walks with the wise will become wise,

20b but the companion of fools will be destroyed.

This proverb contrasts the differing effects of wise and foolish companions. A person who associates with wise people becomes like them in character. A person who associates with fools will suffer the same consequences that fools suffer for their foolish behavior.

13:20a–b

He who walks with the wise…the companion of fools: In this context, the phrase walks with means the same thing as the companion of. Both phrases mean to associate with someone or to be someone’s companion or friend.

Versions such as the Contemporary English Version and the Good News Translation use “you” instead of He. The New Revised Standard Version uses “Whoever.” Some languages use “we(dual) ” or “we(incl.).” Use whatever form is most appropriate in your language for giving advice of this kind.

13:20b

the companion of fools will be destroyed: This phrase can refer to physical suffering or injury. Here it probably refers to undergoing trouble or hardship, as in 11:15a. Other ways to translate 13:20b are:

the friends of fools will suffer (New Century Version)
-or-
whoever mixes with fools will be ruined (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
if you associate with fools, you will get in trouble

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