PROV 10:13 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs. It has a very different structure from the longer poetic lectures of chapters 1–9. It consists mostly of individual couplets (two-line poems) that are each one verse in length. With the exception of the title (10:1a), paragraph breaks will not be indicated in the Notes or Display. You may of course choose to start each proverb as a separate paragraph in your translation.

In chapters 10–15, most of these one-verse couplets express a contrast between the two lines. One of the more common contrasts is between the righteous/wise and the wicked/foolish and the different consequences of their conduct.

In chapters 16:1–22:16, more topics are discussed. There is more emphasis on the role of the king and other leaders. In these chapters, there are few proverbs with contrasting lines. Some of the parallel lines are similar in meaning. More frequently, the second line adds to what the first line says or gives an example. Most of the verses have no obvious connection with the previous or following proverbs.UBS (page 214), Fox (page 509), McKane (page 413). Many scholars, including McKane, point out that there are some topical groupings as well as poetic connections. These include the repetition of certain words or sounds. This observation does not deny the individual nature of most of the proverbs in this Section.

Two of the types of proverbs in this section are not found in chapters 1–9. One type contains logical reasoning from the lesser to the greater. See 11:31 for a list of these proverbs. There are also several varieties of complex “better than” proverbs. The most common have a contrasting situation in each line (see 12:9). For other varieties, see 16:16, 19:1, and 21:9.

Many of the proverbs in this section refer to categories of people who share a common trait. For example, they refer to the righteous, the wise, the poor, and the lazy. In Hebrew, some verses use singular forms to refer to these groups of people. Other verses use plural forms. Still others use a combination of singular and plural. See the note on 10:30a–b for one example. For most of these verses, the Notes will not comment on the difference between singular and plural forms. Use a natural way in your language to refer to one or more people who are in the same category.

Many of the proverbs in this section express a general principle in abstract terms. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. For example, 10:2a–b says:

Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,

but righteousness delivers from death.

However, the author intended his readers to understand these proverbs as advice that they should follow. In some languages, authors or speakers give advice more directly, using pronouns such as you^(sing), you^(plur), we^(dual), or we^(incl). See the note on 10:2 for translation suggestions.

Some other headings for this section are:

Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

The Wise Words of Solomon (NCV)

Here are many wise things that Solomon said

10:13

This verse has parallel parts that contrast in meaning, but the contrast is not obvious. The contrast may be between the kind of words that a wise person speaks and the only “advice” that a fool can understand—physical punishment.

^13a Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,

^13bbut a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

10:13a

Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,

A person who is sensible/intelligent speaks wise words,
If you^(sing) have the ability to understand, the words you speak will show your wisdom.

Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning: The phrase the lips of the discerning is a figure of speech. It represents the words that a discerning person speaks. This means that if a person is intelligent/sensible, his intelligence will be expressed in his speech. Some other ways to translate this line are:

If you have good sense, it will show when you speak (CEV)

Smart people speak wisely (NCV)

Wisdom: The Hebrew word ḥokmah, which the BSB translates as Wisdom, refers here to a person’s skill/ability to make good decisions, to act properly, and to do what is right in any situation. See wisdom in the Glossary.

discerning: In Hebrew, this word 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.

See discerning in the Glossary.

Some other ways to translate this term are:

a person who has understanding (GW)

smart (CEV)

intelligent (NAB)

discerning/sensible

A term such as “educated” is not recommended here, because it may incorrectly refer to a person who has had formal schooling.

10:13b

but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

but a person who lacks good sense deserves to be beaten with a cane/stick.
But if you^(sing) are stupid/senseless, someone will need to punish/whip you.

but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment: This line probably means that a person who lacks judgment needs to be punished by being beaten on the back with a rod (“a slender stick or cane”UBS (page 226).).

It may not be necessary to specify a rod if people in your language area use something different to administer physical punishment. It may also not be necessary to specify that the rod is for the back. For example:

but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod (NLT)

Some scholars think that the word rod may be a figure of speech that represents punishment in general.According to the NET footnote for this verse, “rod” and “back” are both figures of speech (synecdoche): “rod” represents discipline in general, and “back” represents the person. However, physical punishment was common in OT times. In other contexts that speak of using a rod on a child or a fool, for example, Proverbs 13:24, 19:29, 22:15, 23:13–14, 26:3, and 29:15, the word seems to be used literally. So it is likely that a literal meaning is intended here as well. Many scholars (including Waltke, Longman, and Murphy) understand this verse to refer to physical punishment. However, Fox (page 518) understands the word figuratively, and UBS (page 226), though it describes the rod being used to administer a beating on the back, also identifies the word as “a symbol of punishment.” For example:

but stupid people need to be punished (GNT)

Translate this line in a way that clearly and appropriately expresses the meaning in your language.

lacks judgment: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “lacking heart.” In this phrase, the word “heart” refers primarily to a person’s mental faculties—the ability to think clearly and to make good decisions. So the phrase “lacking heart” describes someone who lacks common sense and makes foolish decisions. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

one without sense (GW)

if you are stupid (CEV)

Translate in a way that sounds natural in your language. See lacks judgment in the Glossary.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

בְּ⁠שִׂפְתֵ֣י נָ֭בוֹן

on_[the],lips_of discerning

Here Solomon refers to what a discerning person says as if it were an object on that person’s lips. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “In what a discerning person says”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

תִּמָּצֵ֣א חָכְמָ֑ה

found wisdom

Here Solomon refers to the existence of wisdom as if it were an object that could be found. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “wisdom exists” or “there is wisdom”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

חָכְמָ֑ה

wisdom

See how you translated the abstract noun wisdom in [1:2](../01/02.md).

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

וְ֝⁠שֵׁ֗בֶט לְ⁠גֵ֣ו

and,a_rod [is]_for_[the],back_of

The phrase a rod is for the back refers to a form of punishment that involved beating a person on the back with a rod. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a general expression for physical punishment. Alternate translation: “but physical punishment is for”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

חֲסַר־לֵֽב

lacks_of sense

See how you translated lacking of heart in [6:32](../06/32.md).

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.

OET interlinear PROV 10:13

Hebrew word order

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

10:13

10:13a

10:13b

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)