PROV 14:6 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=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, red:negative.
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 Ζητήσεις σοφίαν παρὰ κακοῖς καὶ οὐχ εὑρήσεις, αἴσθησις δὲ παρὰ φρονίμοις εὐχερής.
(Zaʸtaʸseis sofian para kakois kai ouⱪ heuraʸseis, aisthaʸsis de para fronimois euⱪeraʸs. )

BrTr Thou shalt seek wisdom with bad men, and shalt not find it; but discretion is easily available with the prudent.

ULT A mocker seeks wisdom and there is none,
⇔ but knowledge is easy for the understanding one.

UST People who ridicule other people try to become wise and fail to do so,
⇔ but people who understand what is right learn things easily.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it,
⇔ but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET The scorner seeks wisdom but finds none,
⇔ but understanding is easy for a discerning person.

LSV A scorner has sought wisdom, and it is not,
And knowledge [is] easy to the intelligent.

FBV It's pointless for a scoffer to look for wisdom, but knowledge comes easily to someone who understands.

T4T ⇔ Those who make fun of being wise will never become wise,
⇔ but those who understand what is right learn things easily.

LEB • A scoffer seeks wisdom, but there is none, but knowledge comes easily to him who understands .[fn]

14:? Literally “to one who understands it comes easy”

BBE The hater of authority, searching for wisdom, does not get it; but knowledge comes readily to the open-minded man.

Moff The scoffer seeks in vain for wisdom,
⇔ but knowledge is easy to a serious man.

JPS A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; but knowledge is easy unto him that hath discernment.

ASV A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not;
⇔ But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.

DRA A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: the learning of the wise is easy.

YLT A scorner hath sought wisdom, and it is not, And knowledge to the intelligent [is] easy.

Drby A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none [for him]; but knowledge is easy unto the intelligent.

RV A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.
(A scorner seeketh/seeks wisdom, and findeth/finds it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that hath/has understanding. )

SLT He mocking sought wisdom, and none: and knowledge being easy to him understanding.

Wbstr A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy to him that understandeth.

KJB-1769 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
(A scorner seeketh/seeks wisdom, and findeth/finds it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth/understands. )

KJB-1611 A scorner seeketh wisedome, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easie vnto him that vnderstandeth.
(A scorner seeketh/seeks wisdom, and findeth/finds it not: but knowledge is easie unto him that understandeth/understands.)

Bshps A scornfull body seketh wisdome, and fyndeth it not: but knowledge is easie vnto hym that wyll vnderstande.
(A scornfull body seeketh/seeks wisdom, and findeth/finds it not: but knowledge is easie unto him that will understand.)

Gnva A scorner seeketh wisdome, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easie to him that will vnderstande.
(A scorner seeketh/seeks wisdom, and findeth/finds it not: but knowledge is easie to him that will understand. )

Cvdl A scornefull body seketh wy?dome, & fyndeth it not: but knowlege is easy to come by, vnto him that wil vnderstonde.
(A scornful body seeketh/seeks wisdom, and findeth/finds it not: but knowledge is easy to come by, unto him that will understood.)

Wycl A scornere sekith wisdom, and he fyndith not; the teching of prudent men is esy.
(A scornere seeketh/seeks wisdom, and he findeth/finds not; the teaching of prudent men is esy.)

Luth Der Spötter suchet Weisheit und findet sie nicht; aber dem Verständigen ist die Erkenntnis leicht.
(The mockers seeks wise_(people) and finds they/she/them not; but to_him Verständigen is the knowledge easily.)

ClVg Quærit derisor sapientiam, et non invenit; doctrina prudentium facilis.[fn]
(I_am_looking_fort derisor wisdom, and not/no he_found; teaching/instruction of_the_wise facilis. )

14.6 Quærit derisor sapientiam, etc. Ut Caiphas, etc., usque ad quia perverse quærunt, nunquam prorsus inveniunt.

14.6 I_am_looking_fort derisor wisdom, etc. As Caiphas, etc., until to because perverse they_seek, never/certainly_not completely I_foundunt.

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

14:6

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

^6a A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,

^6bbut knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

This proverb contrasts a mocker’s inability to gain wisdom with a discerning person who easily learns.

14:6a

A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,

A person who makes fun of others cannot become wise even if he tries to do so,
A person who scoffs at others will not succeed if he tries/wants to become wise.

A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none: This line means that a person who mocks others cannot become wise, even though he tries to do so. Some other ways to translate this line are:

A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain (ESV)

A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it (NLT)

See mocker in the Glossary.

14:6b

but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

but if a person is intelligent/sensible, it is easy for him to learn.
But it is easy for a person who thinks clearly to add to what he knows.

but knowledge comes easily to the discerning: The word discerning refers to a person who can understand and interpret ideas and can draw conclusions. He is also a person who is sensible and competent. Another way to translate this line is:

but intelligent people learn easily (GNT)

See discerning in the Glossary.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

לֵ֣ץ & לְ⁠נָב֣וֹן

scoffer & to,[one_who]_has_understanding

See how you translated a mocker in [9:7](../09/07.md) and the understanding one in [1:5](../01/05.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בִּקֶּשׁ

seeks

Here ,wisdom is described as if it were an object that people, trying to be wise, could “seek.” See how you translated the same use of seeks in [11:27](../11/27.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

חָכְמָ֣ה & וְ⁠דַ֖עַת

wisdom & and,knowledge

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

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וָ⁠אָ֑יִן

and,there_[is]_not

Here Solomon means that a mocker cannot acquire wisdom, not that wisdom does not exist. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “and he cannot find it” or “and there is no wisdom for him”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

וְ⁠דַ֖עַת

and,knowledge

Solomon is leaving out a word that, in many languages, a sentence would need in order to be complete. You could supply this word from the context if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “but finding knowledge” or “but acquiring knowledge”

Parallel PROV 14:6

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

14:6

14:6a

14:6b