Translation commentary on Proverbs 30:32

Scott’s title for this short saying in verses 32-33 is “Folly makes trouble.” The theme is that foolish behavior and talk inevitably lead to strife.

“If you have been foolish, exalting yourself”: “You have been foolish” refers to “senseless” or possibly “disgraceful” behavior. “Exalting yourself” is literally “lifting yourself up”; this may refer to “arrogant” (Good News Translation) behavior, but in the context it is likely to have the sense of “boasting” or “bragging” (Contemporary English Version).

“Or if you have been devising evil”: “Devising evil” renders a Hebrew verb that means to consider or plan something. It is almost always used in the sense of planning to do evil, just as the word “scheming” (Revised English Bible) is in English. Good News Translation translates “if you plan evil”; New International Version and Contemporary English Version are similar.

“Put your hand on your mouth”: The Hebrew is literally “hand to mouth.” Revised Standard Version and others like New International Version “clap your hand over your mouth” render it in the form of an action without giving what it really means. In English Revised English Bible gives the sense in a colloquial way with “hold your tongue”; in straightforward terms we could say “keep quiet” or “don’t say anything.” If we assume that the first line of the verse refers to boasting or arrogant speech, then another way of translating here is “stop it now” (Contemporary English Version) or “stop and think” (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 30:32)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 30:32:

  • Kupsabiny: “If foolishness has made you boast about yourself, and you are prepared for evil, remove yourself from (it).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If you are a fool who has been bragging,
    making evil plots
    stop it right now and obey your conscience.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If in your (sing.) foolishness you (sing.) are boasting and planning evil, stop that now!” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “If you (sing.) are foolish and-so you (sing.) boast-about yourself (lit. your body) and you plan/intend evil, cover (sing.) that mouth of yours (sing.) so-that you (sing.) will-be-quiet.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 30:32

Paragraph 30:32–33 A warning to stop behavior that leads to quarrels

Verse 30:32 is a warning to stop foolish boasting and any plans to do evil. The reason for this warning (30:33) is that this kind of behavior makes other people angry and results in strife.

30:32

32a If you have foolishly exalted yourself

32b or if you have plotted evil,

32c put your hand over your mouth!

30:32a

If you have foolishly exalted yourself: In Hebrew, the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as foolishly is a verb form of the word “fool” that occurs in 30:22b. See the note there. It means to act like a fool.

exalted yourself: The phrase exalted yourself refers to being proud and boasting about your own importance. It indicates that arrogant boasting is the way that the fool shows his foolishness. It does not describe a separate action.

Some other ways to translate this line are:

If you have done foolishly by exalting yourself (NET Bible)
-or-
If you are such a godless fool as to honor yourself (God’s Word)
-or-
If you are foolishly bragging (Contemporary English Version)

30:32b

or if you have plotted evil: This clause is literally “and if you have schemed/plotted.” The word evil is implied. The verse does not specify whether the plan involves evil words or deeds. Some other ways to translate this line are:

or planning something evil (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
or plotting evil (New Living Translation (2004))

30:32c

put your hand over your mouth: This admonition is literally “hand to mouth.” It is a cultural gesture. In this context, it means, “stop boasting and do not talk about your evil plans.” Some other ways to translate this line are:

• Keep the cultural gesture if it expresses the right meaning. For example:

put your hand over your mouth (NET Bible)

• Keep the cultural gesture and add the meaning. For example:

put your hand on your mouth and do not speak

• Translate the meaning without the gesture. For example:

shut your mouth (New Century Version)
-or-
stop and think (Good News Translation)

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