cry out

The Hebrew in Proverbs 2:3 that is rendered with “cry out” in English translation is translated into Mam (Ostuncalco) as “call out with all your stomach” (for emphasis).

Translation commentary on Proverbs 2:3

Verses 3 and 4 each have two clauses and are each introduced by an “if.” With verse 1 they form a series of three conditional statements all of which must be fulfilled in order for the results or consequences given in verses 5-22 to follow. As a conditional structure this series must therefore be expressed as “If . . . and if . . . and if . . . then. . .” and not as “If . . . or if . . . or if . . . then. . ..” New International Version is a good model for this particular structure: “(1) My son, if. . ., (3) and if. . ., (4) and if. . ., (5) then. . ..”

“Yes, if you cry out for insight”: “Yes” renders the Hebrew particle that normally introduces a clause of reason, but in this clause it marks the repetition of another “if” clause that must be fulfilled in addition to the previous “if” clause. In translation it is often omitted, but see the comments in the previous paragraph for a caution about this approach. “Cry out” here means to call out to someone for the purpose of getting something. Accordingly, Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version say “beg for,” New Jerusalem Bible has “plea,” and Bible en français courant has “ask for help from.” “Insight” translates the same word as used in 1.2.

“Raise your voice for understanding” strengthens the sense of begging or pleading in the first line. The two lines are parallel and essentially the same in meaning, so Contemporary English Version reduces them to “Beg as loud as you can for good common sense.” Good News Translation keeps the parallelism with “Yes, beg for knowledge; plead for insight.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch combines the lines by saying “Call understanding and insight for help.” Bible en français courant has “Ask intelligence for help, call reason to your aid.”

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 2:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 2:3:

  • Kupsabiny: “You must pray/ask very much in order to be wise and come to understanding.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If you beg for insight
    and ask for understanding” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Try very hard so-that you (sing.) can-possess understanding,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Pray to request understanding.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 2:3

2:3

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

3a if you truly call out to insight

3b and lift your voice to understanding

2:3a–b

if you truly: This verse begins with a Hebrew word that is usually translated as “for/because.” The Berean Standard Bible translates it as truly here. There are at least two ways to interpret this word here:

(1) This word indicates emphasis. For example:

if you indeed cry out for insight (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
yes, if your plea is for clear perception (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) This word does not indicate emphasis. It merely shows that the “if” clauses are being continued from 2:1. It may be omitted in translation. For example:

Cry out for wisdom (New Century Version)

Both interpretations fit the context. You may follow either one. The Display will follow interpretation (1).

call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding: To lift your voice is a more intense expression than to call out. This implies that if insight and good sense do not come immediately, you should try harder to receive them. Scholars agree that call out and lift your voice mean “to summon,” “to call for insight/understanding to come.”

In some languages, this personification may be difficult to understand. One way to translate it without using the figure of speech is:

strongly desire to gain insight/understanding

insight…understanding: In this context, since insight (Hebrew: binah) and understanding (Hebrew: tǝbunah) are parallel and since both are referred to by the single “it” in 2:4, they should be regarded simply as different words for “wisdom,” not as separate concepts.

General Comment on 2:3a–b

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

Beg as loud as you can for good common sense (Contemporary English Version)

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