PROV 14:3 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

14:3

The NJPS has been used as the source line for 14:3a because it follows the recommended textual option. Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^3a In the mouth of a fool is a rod of haughtiness,

^3bbut the lips of the wise protect them.

This proverb contrasts the many words of a proud fool with the cautious words of the wise. The fool’s words show his pride. They result in pain or trouble for others and/or himself. By contrast, the words of the wise protect them from harm.

14:3a–b

(NJPS) The mouth of a fool…the lips of the wise: These parallel phrases are figures of speech. The words mouth and lips represent the words that a person speaks.

14:3a

The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back,

The many things that a proud fool says will cause pain or trouble for himself and for others,
A fool’s mouth is the source of many words that show his pride. They result in harm or punishment for others as well as himself.

(NJPS) In the mouth of a fool is a rod of haughtiness: There is a textual issue here:

The Masoretic Text has “rod/shoot of pride.” For example:
Pride sprouts in the mouth of the fool (NJB) (CEV, KJV, NCV, NIV11, NJPS, NJB, NLT, GNT)
Some scholars think that the original text had the word “back” instead of “pride,” meaning “rod for his back.”The MT has gaʾawa “pride.” Since “rod of pride” is difficult to understand, some English versions have followed the proposal of some textual scholars that the original Hebrew text was gewoh “back.” According to McKane (p. 463), this would provide a better contrast to 14:3b. For example:
The talk of fools is a rod for their backs (NRSV) (BSB, ESV, NAB, NASB, NET, NIV, NLT96, NRSV, REB)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with most scholars.See Waltke (pp. 576, 585–586) for a complete discussion. Other scholars that support the Masoretic Text include Toy, Murphy, Kidner, Ross, UBS, Fox, Longman, Cohen, and NIDOTTE. There is no support in the ancient versions for the word “back.”

(NJPS) fool: In Hebrew, this word for fool refers to someone who does stupid and wrong things because of his evil character. It is also implied that he is arrogant and stubborn. See fool 1 in the Glossary.

(NJPS) a rod of haughtiness: The phrase that the NJPS translates as a rod of haughtiness is a metaphor. There are two ways to interpret the word rod and its relationship to the word haughtiness. (In Hebrew, this word for rod is not the same word as in 10:13.)

The word rod refers to a cane or stick. It implies punishment, in contrast to protection in 14:3b. It also has this meaning in Aramaic, a closely related language. With this interpretation, this line means that a fool’s proud words cause trouble or punishment for others and/or himself. For example:
A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride (NIV11)
Fools will be punished for their proud words (NCV) (CEV, KJV, NCV, NIV11, NJPS, NLT)
The word rod refers to a shoot or tender branch. It implies flourishing growth. It has this meaning in Isaiah 11:1, the only other place where this word occurs in the OT. With this interpretation, this line means that pride grows or flourishes in the mouth of a fool. For example:
Pride sprouts in the mouth of the fool (NJB)
Proud fools talk too much (GNT) (NJB, GNT)

It is recommended that you translate this line in a way that includes both interpretations (1) and (2).According to Waltke (p. 585), “the metaphor connotes that it sprouts and flourishes and/or that it inflicts punishment.” Cohen (p. 86) suggests the translation “a branch (producing) pride.” He also comments that the fool’s “haughty speech…has the effect of getting him into trouble.” Cook (p. 42) says, “The pride shown in his speech is as a rod with which he strikes down others and himself.” For two ways to do this, see the meaning lines in the Display for 14:3a. Also see the summary after the parallel line display in 14:3 above.

14:3b

but the lips of the wise protect them.

but the careful words/speech of a wise person protect him from harm.
In contrast, wise people protect themselves by restraining what they say.

but the lips of the wise protect them: In contrast to the many proud words of the fool, this line may imply that the wise people speak with caution or restraint.Waltke (p. 585) comments that “wise people through their cautious discretion protect themselves from needless pain.” Some other ways to translate this line are:

but wise people are protected by their speech (GW)

but the words of the wise keep them safe (NLT)

but wise people protect themselves by using caution/restraint in their words

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בְּֽ⁠פִי־אֱ֭וִיל חֹ֣טֶר גַּאֲוָ֑ה

[is]_in_[the],mouth_of fool rod_of back

In this clause, Solomon refers to what a fool says with his mouth resulting in him being punished with a rod as if a rod were in his mouth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Because of what a fool says, he is punished for pride” or “A fool is punished because of the proud things he says”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

בְּֽ⁠פִי־אֱ֭וִיל

[is]_in_[the],mouth_of fool

Here, mouth represents what a person says with his mouth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [In what a fool says]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

חֹ֣טֶר גַּאֲוָ֑ה

rod_of back

Here Solomon is using the possessive form to describe a rod that is used to punish someone for having pride. If your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: “is a rod for punishing proud people”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

וְ⁠שִׂפְתֵ֥י

and_[the],lips_of

See how you translated the same use of lips in [10:21](../10/21.md).

תִּשְׁמוּרֵֽ⁠ם

it,preserves_them

Alternate translation: “will keep them from harm” or “will keep them safe”

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.