PROV 8:12 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 8:1–36: Wisdom calls out to people and reminds them of the benefits of being wise

In contrast to the previous section describing the adulterous woman, this section describes personified Wisdom. The public setting for Wisdom’s speech is described in 8:1–3. In 8:4–11, she addresses all mankind and describes her own character. In 8:12–21, she provides reasons why people should choose her. Additional motivation is given in 8:22–31: Wisdom was with the LORD when he created the world. The section ends with Wisdom appealing to mankind to follow her teaching (8:32–36).

This section is a speech by personified Wisdom. As in Wisdom’s speech in 1:20–33, the Notes have used a capital letter for Wisdom in most verses. However, in her speech, Wisdom sometimes refers to “wisdom” as an ability that people have or use or should try to obtain. In some of these contexts, the Notes have used small letters for “wisdom.” The Display will often give more than one option. You may use either option in your language, depending on what is appropriate in each context.

Some other headings for this section are:

Wisdom’s Call (NIV)

Listen to Wisdom (NCV)

The good qualities of Wisdom

Wisdom’s second invitation to people

Paragraph 8:12–21

After again identifying herself and the qualities that she is associated with (12–13), Wisdom describes why people should choose her. They should choose her because she is the basis of an orderly society (14–16). She is also the source of wealth and other benefits to those who seek and find her (17–21).

8:12

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^12a I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence,

^12band I find knowledge and discretion.

8:12a

I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence,

¶ “I, wisdom, live in the same house as shrewdness.
¶ “I am Wisdom, and cleverness/resourcefulness is like my housemate.

I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence: Wisdom identifies herself figuratively as someone who lives in the same house as prudence or “shrewdness.”Literally, the Hebrew text says that wisdom inhabits prudence (not lives “with” prudence). However, most versions that retain the figure of living or dwelling take it in the sense of living “with,” and this fits the nonfigurative meaning of a close association. These figures of speech (personification and metaphor) indicate that wisdom is closely associated with shrewdness. Some ways to translate these figures are:

Keep the figure of personification, but do not use the figure of living together. For example:
I am Wisdom—Common Sense is… (CEV)
Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
I am Wisdom. It’s as if I live in the same house as Prudence.

If you identified wisdom with a phrase such as “I, wisdom” or “I am Wisdom” in 8:11, you may not need to repeat it here.

prudence: See prudence in the Glossary.

8:12b

and I find knowledge and discretion.

I also attain/gain knowledge and the ability to make good plans.
I add to what I know. I also increase my discernment/insight.

and I find knowledge and discretion: The Hebrew text is literally “knowledge of discretion,” not “knowledge and discretion,” so it is not the same expression as 1:4b. Fox (page 271) and McKane (page 347) both understand an “of” phrase, but the versions all have “and.” Toy (page 167) says that it is proper to supply the “and.” Wisdom describes herself as a person who does not automatically possess knowledge but has to gain it.This is Fox’s view (page 272), and it is in keeping with the normal use of the verb. Whybray (page 124) agrees that the verb nowhere means “possess” in biblical Hebrew.

discretion: (Hebrew: mǝzimmah): See discretion in the Glossary.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

שָׁכַ֣נְתִּי עָרְמָ֑ה

dwell prudence

Here, Wisdom speaks of being associated with prudence as if prudence were a person whom Wisdom dwells with. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: “What is wise is associated with what is prudent” or “I dwell with prudence like two people who live in the same house”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

חָ֭כְמָה & עָרְמָ֑ה וְ⁠דַ֖עַת מְזִמּ֣וֹת

wisdom & prudence and,knowledge_of discretion

See how you translated the abstract nouns Wisdom in [1:2](../01/02.md), and prudence, knowledge, and discretion in [1:4](../01/04.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

וְ⁠דַ֖עַת מְזִמּ֣וֹת

and,knowledge_of discretion

Here, Wisdom is using the possessive form to describe a knowledge that is about discretion. If your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: “and knowledge about discretion”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠דַ֖עַת מְזִמּ֣וֹת אֶמְצָֽא

and,knowledge_of discretion find

Here, Wisdom speaks of enabling people to have knowledge of discretion as if they were objects that one could find. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “I enable you to acquire knowledge of discretion” or “What is wise enables you to acquire knowledge of discretion”

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.