Translation commentary on Proverbs 16:23

“The mind of the wise makes his speech judicious”: The sense of this saying is similar to verse 21. “The mind of the wise” renders a form of the Hebrew expression translated by Revised Standard Version in verse 21 “the wise of heart” and refers to a wise person, one having sound judgment. “Makes . . . judicious” renders the causative form of a Hebrew verb meaning “to be prudent or wise.” “Speech” is literally “mouth.” We may render this line, for example, “A person with good sense is careful how he speaks” or “If you are wise, you will watch what you say.”

“And adds persuasiveness to his lips”: For “adds persuasiveness” refer to “increases persuasiveness” in verse 21b. “His lips” is parallel with “his mouth” in the first line and again refers to the wise person’s speech, what he says. Contemporary English Version reverses the two lines of this saying: “You can persuade others if you are wise and speak sensibly.” See also Good News Translation.

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 16:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 16:23:

  • Kupsabiny: “A wise person analyses something carefully before talking,
    and his words corrects/brings back people.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Wise people speak
    only after careful consideration of the issues.
    and they win the hearts
    of those who listen to what they say.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A wise man surely guards what he says, therefore others can-learn from him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The wise-person, his way of speaking is careful/circumspect and persuasive.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Those who are wise think carefully before they talk,
    and as a result they are able to influence/persuade others to do what is right.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 16:23

16:23

In this proverb, the second line expresses the result of the process in the first line.

23a The heart of a wise man instructs his mouth

23b and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

The overall meaning is that the mind of a wise person directs him to say what is sensible. As a result, his words increase his ability as a teacher and help his students to learn more effectively.

Compare 16:21, which has a similar theme. The words “mouth” and “lips” are both figures of speech. They represent the words that a wise person says.

16:23a

The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth: In Hebrew, this line is more literally “The heart of a wise person causes/guides his mouth to be shrewd/sensible.” Some versions make this information explicit, as it is in Hebrew. For example:

The heart of the wise lends shrewdness to speech (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
From a wise mind comes wise speech (New Living Translation (2004))

Some other versions, such as the Berean Standard Bible, leave it implied. You will need to decide whether it is more effective in your language to leave this information implied, as in the Berean Standard Bible, or to make it explicit, as it is in Hebrew.

16:23b

and adds persuasiveness to his lips: For the phrase adds persuasiveness, see the note on the phrase “promotes instruction” in 16:21b, which is identical in the Hebrew.

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