PROV 12:18 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Some people speak recklessly, like a sword thrashing around,
⇔ ^ but wise people bring healing with their words.

12:18 OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently from BHQ.

12:18 OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS. Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Εἰσὶν οἳ λέγοντες τιτρώσκουσι, μάχαιραι· γλῶσσαι δὲ σοφῶν ἰῶνται.
(Eisin hoi legontes titrōskousi, maⱪairai; glōssai de sofōn iōntai. )

ULT There is one speaking thoughtlessly like the thrusts of a sword,
⇔ but the tongue of the wise ones—healing.

UST When people speak without thinking about what to say, they hurt others like someone who stabs people with a sword,
⇔ but what wise people say helps people heal.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword,
⇔ but the tongue of the wise heals.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Speaking recklessly is like the thrusts of a sword,
⇔ but the words of the wise bring healing.

LSV A rash speaker is like piercings of a sword,
And the tongue of the wise is healing.

FBV Some people's hasty words cut like a knife, but the words of the wise bring healing.

T4T ⇔ What some people say hurts people badly, as much as [SIM] a sword can;
⇔ but what wise people say ◄heals others’ souls/comforts others►.

LEB • There is one who speaks rashly, like the thrust of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

BBE There are some whose uncontrolled talk is like the wounds of a sword, but the tongue of the wise makes one well again.

Moff A reckless tongue wounds like a sword,
⇔ but there is healing power in thoughtful words.

JPS There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword; but the tongue of the wise is health.

ASV There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword;
⇔ But the tongue of the wise is health.

DRA There is that promiseth, and is pricked as it were with a sword of conscience: but the tongue of the wise is health.

YLT A rash speaker is like piercings of a sword, And the tongue of the wise is healing.

Drby There is that babbleth like the piercings of a sword; but the tongue of the wise is health.

RV There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
(There is that speaketh/speaks rashly like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. )

SLT There is he talking idly as the piercings of the sword: and the tongue of the wise is healing.

Wbstr There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

KJB-1769 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
(There is that speaketh/speaks like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. )

KJB-1611 There is that speaketh like the pearcings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
(There is that speaketh/speaks like the pearcings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.)

Bshps A slaunderous person pricketh lyke a sworde: but a wise mans tongue is wholsome.
(A slanderous person pricketh like a sword: but a wise mans tongue is wholsome.)

Gnva There is that speaketh wordes like the prickings of a sworde: but the tongue of wise men is health.
(There is that speaketh/speaks words like the prickings of a sword: but the tongue of wise men is health. )

Cvdl A slaunderous personne pricketh like a swerde, but a wyse mans tonge is wholsome.
(A slanderous person pricketh like a sword, but a wise mans tongue is wholsome.)

Wycl A man is that bihetith, and he is prickid as with the swerd of conscience; but the tunge of wise men is helthe.
(A man is that bihetith, and he is prickid as with the sword of conscience; but the tongue of wise men is health.)

Luth Wer unvorsichtig herausfährt, sticht wie ein Schwert; aber die Zunge der Weisen ist heilsam.
(Who uncautious exits(v), stings/pierces as/like a sword; but the tongue the/of_the ways/manners is healing.)

ClVg Est qui promittit, et quasi gladio pungitur conscientiæ: lingua autem sapientium sanitas est.[fn]
(It_is who/which promises, and as_if with_a_sword pungitur conscience: tongue/language however wise health it_is. )

12.18 Lingua autem sapientium est sanitas, etc., quia et bona, quæ promittunt, ipsi perficiendo ad vitam perveniunt; et aliis, quæ sequantur, demonstrant

12.18 Lingua however wise it_is health, etc., because and good(s), which they_promise, themselves perficiendo to life they_arrive; and to_others, which follow, demonstrant

SOTN 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

12:18

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^18a Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword,

^18bbut the tongue of the wise brings healing.

This verse contrasts the harmful effects of reckless words and the healing effects of wise words.

12:18a

Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword,

The hurtful words that a thoughtless person says are like a sword that causes deep wounds.
When someone speaks hastily without thinking, his words are like a sharp knife.

Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword: The phrase Speaking rashly refers to impulsive or thoughtless words. These are words that a person says hastily without thinking of the consequences.

This clause is a simile. In this simile, reckless words are compared to sword thrusts. The similarity is that both cause deep wounds. Some ways to translate this simile are:

Keep the simile, as most English versions have done. For example:
Thoughtless words can wound like a sword (NJB)
Careless words stab like a sword (NCV)
If swords are not well known, substitute something similar such as a knife or machete. For example:
Words thoughtlessly spoken are like the stabs of a knife
Focus on the function of a sword rather than mentioning the sword itself. For example:
Some people make cutting remarks (NLT)

12:18b

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

But the words spoken by a wise person are able to heal the wounds.
But when a wise person speaks, his words are like a soothing medicine.

but the tongue of the wise brings healing: the tongue of the wise is a figure of speech. It represents the words that wise people speak. Such words heal or soothe the hurt or trouble that is caused by thoughtless words.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

בּ֭וֹטֶה

speaks_rashly

Here, one refers to a type of person. It does not mean that there is only one person who does this thing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: “a type of person who speaks thoughtlessly”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

כְּ⁠מַדְקְר֣וֹת חָ֑רֶב

like,thrusts_of sword

Solomon is saying that what people who speak thoughtlessly say is like the thrusts of a sword because it hurts people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “and hurting others as if he stabbed them with a sword”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

וּ⁠לְשׁ֖וֹן חֲכָמִ֣ים מַרְפֵּֽא

and=(the)_tongue wise healing

Solomon is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [but the tongue of the wise ones causes healing]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

וּ⁠לְשׁ֖וֹן

and=(the)_tongue

The word tongue represents tongues in general, not one particular tongue. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a more natural expression. Alternate translation: “but the tongues of”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy