understanding ("head wisdom")

In the Tzeltal translation for the dialectal variant of Highland Tzeltal (Biblia Tzeltal yu’un Oxchuc soc Tenejapa, 2001) the translation team used three different words to translate the Hebrew term that is translated as “wisdom” in English. One of them is p’ijil jol or “word wisdom” which is also used for “understanding,” good sense,” “intelligent,” or “insight.”

For the complete story and more background, please see wisdom (Proverbs).

Translation commentary on Proverbs 8:9

“They are all straight to him who understands”: “They” refers to the words spoken by Wisdom. “Straight” in reference to speech is the opposite of “twisted” and “crooked” and therefore means “straightforward,” “clear,” or “honest.” “Him who understands” means the intelligent person, the person who has insight and good sense.

If you have been using direct address, you will want to continue doing so here; for example, “If you have understanding, you will find my words are honest.”

“And right to those who find knowledge”: This line is very similar in meaning to the first line. “Right” is as in verse 6. See 1.4 for “knowledge”. In this verse people with understanding or insight will have no difficulty understanding Wisdom’s teaching. This line may be translated as direct address, as in the first line: “If you seek knowledge, you will find my words are right.”

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 8:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 8:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “An understanding man is in agreement with what I am saying and he who is wise follows/supports my words.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If you have insight you will know,
    how straight the things are that I say.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “This is all clear and there is no wrong with the people who have understanding.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “If you have understanding and you want what you know to be-added-to, you will-be-able-to-see that my speech/words is clear and it has no place-of-error.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 8:9

8:9

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

9a They are all plain to the discerning,

9b and upright to those who find knowledge.

Although some English versions translate this verse as a chiasm, in Hebrew, this verse does not have chiastic structure. The first line is: “All of them are right to the discerning.” If the use of chiasm does not enhance the poetic beauty of this verse in your language, you may use normal word order. See the General Comment on 7:21a–b at the end of 7:21a.

8:9a

They are all plain: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as plain is not the same Hebrew word that was used in 1:3b. There are two ways to interpret this word here:

(1) It means clear, plain, straightforward, understandable. For example:

All of it is clear to a person who has understanding (God’s Word)

(2) It means right, appropriate, true, honest. For example:

People with good sense know what I say is true (New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). But both interpretations make good sense in this context and have good scholarly support.

to the discerning: The Hebrew word mebin, which the Berean Standard Bible translates here as discerning, refers to a person who can understand and interpret ideas and can draw conclusions. He is also a person who is sensible and competent. He is able to act in an appropriate way when he needs to make a decision or solve a problem. He is able to discern the difference between right and wrong, between a good decision and a bad one.

Other ways to translate this word are:

a person who can understand
-or-
those with insight (Good News Translation)
-or-
someone who is intelligent

8:9b

and upright: The word translated here as upright is a slightly different form of the same root that was used in 8:6b. It can mean “straight” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “level.” In this context, it may mean that Wisdom’s words would not lead someone astray or cause them to sin. It may also mean that her words are straightforward and easy to understand. You may use a term with either of these senses.

to those who find knowledge: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as those who find knowledge is literally “those finding knowledge.” According to most scholars and versions, this phrase refers to those who have already found knowledge, not those who are looking for knowledge. For example:

the well-informed (Good News Translation)
-or-
you have acquired knowledge (New Jerusalem Bible)

General Comments on 8:9a–b

This is part of Wisdom’s speech, which began in 8:4. In that verse, she addressed the audience using the second person pronoun “you.” The next verse (8:10) also uses a second person command form. So in many languages it may be more natural to use second person pronouns in 8:9 as well. For example:

Those of you who are intelligent have no difficulty in understanding what I say, and you who have gained knowledge consider my advice to be straightforward.

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

An intelligent and knowledgeable person considers my advice to be straightforward and easily understood.

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