PROV 14:18 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

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 Μεριοῦνται ἄφρονες κακίαν, οἱ δὲ πανοῦργοι κρατήσουσιν αἰσθήσεως.
(Meriountai afrones kakian, hoi de panourgoi krataʸsousin aisthaʸseōs. )

BrTr Fools shall have mischief for their portion; but the prudent shall take fast hold of understanding.

ULT Simpletons inherit folly,
⇔ but the prudent will wear a crown of knowledge.

UST Naive people only acquire foolish habits,
⇔ but the reward for clever people is what they know.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE The simple inherit folly,
⇔ but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET The naive inherit folly,
⇔ but the shrewd are crowned with knowledge.

LSV The simple have inherited folly,
And the prudent are crowned [with] knowledge.

FBV The inheritance of stupid people is stupidity, but sensible people are rewarded[fn] with knowledge.

14:18 “Rewarded”: literally, “crowned.”

T4T ⇔ Foolish people get what they deserve for doing foolish things;
⇔ those with good sense are rewarded [MET] by being able to learn a lot.

LEB • The simple are adorned with folly, but the clever are crowned with knowledge.

BBE Foolish behaviour is the heritage of the simple, but men of good sense are crowned with knowledge.

Moff What simpletons acquire is folly:
⇔ shrewd men will pick up knowledge.

JPS The thoughtless come into possession of folly; but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

ASV The simple inherit folly;
⇔ But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

DRA The childish shall possess folly, and the prudent, shall look for knowledge.

YLT The simple have inherited folly, And the prudent are crowned [with] knowledge.

Drby The simple inherit folly; but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

RV The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

SLT The simple inherit folly: and the prudent shall be surrounded with knowledge.

Wbstr The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

KJB-1769 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

KJB-1611 The simple inherite folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps The ignoraunt haue foolishnesse in possession: but the wyse are crowned with knowledge.
(The ignorant have foolishness in possession: but the wise are crowned with knowledge.)

Gnva The foolish do inherite follie: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
(The foolish do inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. )

Cvdl The ignoraut haue foolishnes in possessio, but the wyse are crowned with knowlege.
(The ignorant have foolishness in possessio, but the wise are crowned with knowledge.)

Wycl Litle men of wit schulen holde foli; and felle men schulen abide kunnyng.
(Little men of wit should hold folly; and fell men should abide cunning.)

Luth Die Albernen erben Narrheit; aber es ist der Witzigen Krone, vorsichtiglich handeln.
(The Foolish_one(s) inherit folly; but it is the/of_the joke(n)igen crown, cautiouslich act/trade(v).)

ClVg Possidebunt parvuli stultitiam, et exspectabunt astuti scientiam.
(Possidebunt little_ones stupidity, and waitbunt astuti knowledge. )

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

14:18

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^18a The simple inherit folly,

^18bbut the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

14:18a

The simple inherit folly,

Those who believe anything and are easily deceived become fools,
If a person is easily deceived, he will experience the results of his own foolishness.

The simple inherit folly: There is a textual issue here. It involves the word that the BSB translates as inherit:

The Masoretic Text has naḥalu “inherit.” Here it is used figuratively to mean “acquire or gain as one’s destiny or permanent possession.” For example:
Simpletons have folly for their portion (NJB) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GW, KJV, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, RSV, GNT)
To achieve better parallelism, some scholars propose that the original text had different vowels, resulting in the word neḥelu “adorned.” For example:
The simple are adorned with folly (NRSV) (NAB, NLT, NRSV, REB)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with most versions and scholars. The MT makes good sense, and there is no support for option (2) in the ancient versions.See Waltke (p. 580) and Murphy (p. 102) for good arguments against following the proposed text with different vowels and a discussion of the renderings of the LXX, Syriac, and Targums.

simple: This word was last used in 14:15a. For more information, see simple in the Glossary.

inherit: In this context, to inherit or “acquire” folly means to become less and less able to do what is right and to avoid what is wrong. One way to translate this meaning is:

A naive/gullible person becomes more and more foolish

folly: The word folly refers to a person’s moral foolishness—the inability or refusal to do what is morally right or to avoid what is wrong. It is also possible that folly here is a figure of speech that represents the results of foolish behavior.This is Waltke’s understanding (2004, pp. 596–597). Some English versions seem to reflect this interpretation. For example:

Ignorant people get what their foolishness deserves (GNT)

You may follow either approach. See folly in the Glossary.

14:18b

but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

but clever/intelligent people are crowned/rewarded with increased knowledge.
If he is shrewd/sensible, what he knows will steadily increase.

but the prudent are crowned with knowledge: This clause is a figure of speech. It probably compares knowledge to a crown that sensible people gain as a reward for their wisdom.Longman (pp. 302–303), Toy (p. 293). Some other ways to translate this figure of speech are:

Keep the figure of speech. For example:
but sensible people are crowned with knowledge (GW)
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
but the clever are rewarded with knowledge (GNT)
but a shrewd person gains knowledge as his reward

The word prudent was last used in 14:15b. For more information, see prudence in the Glossary.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

נָחֲל֣וּ & אִוֶּ֑לֶת

inherit & folly

Here Solomon speaks of Naive ones becoming foolish as if folly were property or wealth that they could inherit from a family member. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. See how you translated the similar use of inherit in [3:35](../03/35.md). Alternate translation: “become foolish”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

אִוֶּ֑לֶת & דָֽעַת

folly & knowledge

See how you translated the abstract nouns folly in [5:23](../05/23.md) and knowledge in [1:4](../01/04.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יַכְתִּ֥רוּ דָֽעַת

crowned knowledge

Here Solomon speaks of people being rewarded with knowledge as if knowledge were a crown they will wear. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: “will be rewarded with knowledge” or “will be rewarded with knowledge as if it were a crown that they wore”

Parallel PROV 14:18

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

14:18

14:18a

14:18b