Translation commentary on Proverbs 28:7

For similar sayings see 10.1 and 13.1.

“He who keeps the law is a wise son”: “Keeps” in “keeps the law” renders a different verb than used in verse 4, but the sense is the same. “Son” in Hebrew is a masculine singular noun, but it need not be translated as exclusively a male offspring. Note Good News Translation “young people.” “A wise son” is literally “son of understanding,” meaning a person who is wise or capable, as with “men of understanding” in verse 2.

“But a companion of gluttons shames his father”: “Gluttons” is the same term found in 23.20-21, where it means “people who overindulge in food.” Here the sense is more generally of worthless people, those who are shamelessly immoral. So Good News Translation has “good-for-nothings” and Contemporary English Version “worthless nobodies.” “Shames”, as in 25.8, translates a word meaning to “humiliate,” “disgrace,” or “dishonor.” Whether “father” or “parents” is used may depend on the way “son” is translated in line 1.

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 28:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 28:7:

  • Kupsabiny: “A child who honors the law is wise,
    but the one who moves around with selfish people, he causes pain to his father.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Young men who honor God’s justice are wise.
    Those who associate with worthless ones,
    shame their fathers.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A child who obeys the Law is wise, but a child who makes-buddies with good-for-nothing/worthless ones disgraces his parents.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The child who obeys the law is thinking/reflective, but the one who companions-with people who are useless, he shames his father.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Young people who obey the laws are wise ;
    parents whose children associate with those who carouse/go to wild parties are humiliated/disgraced because of what their children do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)