PROV 12:14 Interlinear View

12:14 OSHB variant note: ישוב: (x-qere) ’יָשִׁ֥יב’: lemma_7725 morph_HVhi3ms id_20VcL יָשִׁ֥יב

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

12:14

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^14aBy fruitful speech a man is filled with good things,

^14band the work of his hands returns to him.

12:14a–b

(combined/reordered)

The person whose words and deeds are good will be generously rewarded as a result.
If you^(sing) say what is good, and if you help others by what you do, you yourself will experience many good results.

There are three ways to interpret the overall meaning of this verse:

A person is rewarded for good words. He is also rewarded for good actions. For example:
People can get many good things by the words they say; the work of their hands also gives them many benefits. (NLT96) (BSB, GW, NCV, NIV, NJB, NLT96, NRSV, REB)
A person is rewarded for good words. He is also rewarded or punished according to his actions. For example:
A person will be satisfied with good from the fruit of his words, and the work of his hands will be rendered to him. (NET) (ESV, KJV, NASB, NET, NJPS, RSV)
A person is rewarded or punished according to his words and deeds. For example:
We are rewarded or punished for what we say and do. (CEV) (CEV, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most versions. The first line explicitly refers to “good.” The second line may be understood in the same way because of the parallelism.

12:14a

By fruitful speech a man is filled with good things,

A person will receive many benefits from the good/helpful things that he says.
If you^(sing) speak good words, your reward will be great,

By fruitful speech: In Hebrew, the phrase that the BSB translates as fruitful speech is literally “the fruit of his mouth.” It is a figure of speech. It means “the results of what he says.”

It is implied from the second half of the clause that he says what is good, beneficial or helpful. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this implied information explicit. For example:

Wise words bring many benefits (NLT)

a man is filled with good things: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “a man is filled/satisfied with good.” It means that a person receives many benefits from the good things that he says. These benefits include things such as wealth, success, and respect. Here is one way to express this idea:

Your reward (GNT)

People will be rewarded (NCV)

However, there is an emphasis in the expression “filled/satisfied” that is good to bring out in translation. This emphasis can be expressed in various ways. For example:

People will be amply/thoroughly rewarded because of their good words

People can get many good things by the words they say (NLT96)

12:14b

and the work of his hands returns to him.

He will also benefit from the good things that he does.
and if you^(sing) do good deeds, you will also receive the benefit you deserve.

and: In Hebrew, this phrase is a single word (the conjunction waw). It probably means “and,” “also,” or “moreover.” Here it connects two lines that both deal with the principle of reward. Good words are rewarded. Good deeds are also rewarded.

Some versions indicate this connection with a specific word or words. For example:

as surely as the work of his hands rewards him (NIV)

and they will also be rewarded for what they do (NCV)

Other versions leave the connection implicit. For example:

they get the reward their work merits (REB)

Translate this connection in a natural way in your language.

the work of his hands: This phrase refers to a person’s deeds or activities. One way to translate it is:

manual labor (NRSV)

However, most translations treat the word hands as a figure of speech (synecdoche) in which hands represent the entire person. For example:None of the commentaries or lexicons used in preparing these Notes advocated the meaning of “manual labor.”

what they do (NCV)

Because of the parallel with 12:14a, it is implied that the person’s deeds or activities are good. In some languages, this implied information may need to be made explicit. For example:

the good things that he does

returns to him: The Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates literally as returns to him would refer in a neutral context to either reward or punishment. (See interpretations (2) and (3) above in 12:14.) But in this context, it is parallel with “good things” in the first line. So it has a desirable meaning and refers to a reward or benefit.

General Comment on 12:14a–b

English versions do not specify who rewards the person who says and does good things. It could be either other people or the LORD or both. It is recommended that you translate the verse without making explicit the source of the reward. Some ways to do this are:

Use a passive verb. For example:
^14aPeople will be rewarded for what they say, ^14band they will also be rewarded for what they do. (NCV)
Use a different construction. For example:
^14aWise words bring many benefits, ^14band hard work brings rewards. (NLT)

Some other examples that do not specify the source of the reward or benefit are the NLT96 (quoted above in 12:14a–b) and the REB (quoted in 12:14b).

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

People who say and do good things will be thoroughly satisfied with the benefit/reward they receive.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

מִ⁠פְּרִ֣י פִי־אִ֭ישׁ

from_the=fruit mouth_of (a)_man

Here Solomon refers to what a person says as if it were fruit that was produced by that person’s mouth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “From what a man says”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

אִ֭ישׁ יִשְׂבַּע & אָ֝דָ֗ם יָשִׁ֥יב לֽ⁠וֹ

(a)_man filled_with & humankind (Some words not found in UHB: from_the=fruit mouth_of (a)_man filled_with good and_[the],dealing_of hands_of humankind reward to=him/it )

Although a man, he, and him are masculine, Solomon is using the words in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use phrases that make this clear. Alternate translation: “a person will that person be satisfied with … a person will return to that person”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

מִ⁠פְּרִ֣י פִי־אִ֭ישׁ יִשְׂבַּע־ט֑וֹב

from_the=fruit mouth_of (a)_man filled_with good

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “The fruit of the mouth of a man will satisfy him with good”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ט֑וֹב

good

See how you translated the abstract noun good in [11:27](../11/27.md).

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

וּ⁠גְמ֥וּל יְדֵי־אָ֝דָ֗ם

and_[the],dealing_of hands_of humankind

Here Solomon refers to what a person accomplishes through physical labor as if it were the accomplishment of that person’s hands. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and what a man accomplishes through physical labor”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

יָשִׁ֥יב לֽ⁠וֹ

(Some words not found in UHB: from_the=fruit mouth_of (a)_man filled_with good and_[the],dealing_of hands_of humankind reward to=him/it )

Here Solomon refers to the benefits that a person receives as a result of working hard as if that accomplishment were a person who could return to him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “will help him”

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

12:14 OSHB variant note: ישוב: (x-qere) ’יָשִׁ֥יב’: lemma_7725 morph_HVhi3ms id_20VcL יָשִׁ֥יב

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 12:14