PROV 8:14 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).

8:14–17

In these verses, the Hebrew pronouns that the BSB translates as “mine,” “I,” and “me” occur in an emphatic position. In some languages, this emphasis may be expressed by saying “It is I who…” or “I am the one who….” For example, a translation of 8:14 may say:

I am the one who gives good advice so that people are able to make successful plans. I also am the source of intelligence and power.

8:14

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^14a Counsel and sound judgment are mine;

^14b I have insight and strength.

8:14a–b

are mine; I have: In this verse and in 8:15, Wisdom claims to possess the qualities or abilities that rulers need in order to govern well. These verses imply that Wisdom not only has these qualities herself, but that she is the one who provides them to rulers. In some languages, it may be helpful to make this explicit. For example:

From me come advice and ability. (REB)

8:14a

Counsel and sound judgment are mine;

It is I who give good advice and enable people to plan well/effectively.

Counsel: The word Counsel is a general word meaning “advice,” but in this context, it refers mainly to political and military advice. It also indicates the ability to think about a situation and make good plans. (Notice the GNT translation: “I make plans.”) So it has a very similar meaning to “sound judgment.”

See advice in the Glossary.

sound judgment: This second term (tušiyyah in Hebrew) means “competence” in this context. It describes someone who is able to think clearly and practically to decide what action should be taken in a particular situation. See the note on 2:7a. See sound judgment in the Glossary.

8:14b

I have insight and strength.

I also give people their understanding and power.
I am also the source of people’s authority and their ability to understand things.

I have insight and strength: The word insight means “intelligence.” See understanding (insight) in the Glossary.

The word strength refers to political or military power.

uW Translation Notes:

עֵ֭צָה וְ⁠תוּשִׁיָּ֑ה & בִ֝ינָ֗ה & גְבוּרָֽה

advice and,sound_wisdom & discernment & strength

See how you translated Counsel in [1:25](../01/25.md), wisdom and understanding in [1:2](../01/02.md), and strength in [5:10](../05/10.md).

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לִֽ⁠י־עֵ֭צָה וְ⁠תוּשִׁיָּ֑ה & לִ֣⁠י גְבוּרָֽה

to=me advice and,sound_wisdom & to=me strength

Here, Wisdom speaks of enabling people to have Counsel, sound wisdom, and strength as if they were objects that belong to Wisdom. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “I enable you to acquire counsel and sound wisdom … I enable you to acquire strength” or “What is wise enables you to acquire counsel and sound wisdom … what is wise enables you to acquire strength”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אֲנִ֥י בִ֝ינָ֗ה

I discernment

Here Wisdom identifies herself with understanding. As in [8:1](../08/01.md), we are meant to understand that both wisdom and understanding are two words for the same thing, and thus they are pictured as the same woman who is known by both names. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this clear. Alternate translation: [I am also known as Understanding]

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 8:14

Hebrew word order