PROV 16:32 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.)

OET (OET-RV) It’s better to be slow to get angry than to be powerful,
⇔ ≈ and better to be able to control yourself than to capture a city.

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 Κρείσσων ἀνὴρ μακρόθυμος ἰσχυροῦ, ὁ δὲ κρατῶν ὀργῆς κρείσσων καταλαμβανομένου πόλιν.
(Kreissōn anaʸr makrothumos isⱪurou, ho de kratōn orgaʸs kreissōn katalambanomenou polin. )

BrTr A man slow to anger is better than a strong man; and he that governs his temper better than he that takes a city.

ULT Better is one long of nostrils than a mighty one,
⇔ and one ruling his spirit than one capturing a city.

UST It is better to be someone who does not become angry quickly than to be powerful.
⇔ It is better to control oneself than to be as powerful as someone who conquers a city.

OEB No OEB PROV book available

WEBBE One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty;
⇔ one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Better to be slow to anger than to be a mighty warrior,
⇔ and one who controls his temper is better than one who captures a city.

LSV Better [is] the [one] slow to anger than the mighty,
And the ruler over his spirit than he who is taking a city.

FBV Better to be slow to anger than to be powerful, better to have self-control than to conquer a town.

T4T ⇔ Those who do not become angry quickly are better than those who are powerful;
⇔ it is better to ◄control your temper/keep yourself from becoming very angry► than to conquer a city.

LEB • He who is slow to anger[fn] is better than him who is mighty, and he who controls his spirit than him who captures a city.

16:? Literally “nostrils”

BBE He who is slow to be angry is better than a man of war, and he who has control over his spirit than he who takes a town.

Moff A forbearing man is better than a fighting man;
⇔ he who controls himself is better than a conqueror.

JPS He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

ASV He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;
⇔ And he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.

DRA The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh cities.

YLT Better [is] the slow to anger than the mighty, And the ruler over his spirit than he who is taking a city.

Drby He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

RV He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
(He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that taketh/takes a city. )

SLT He slow to anger is, good above the strong; and, he ruling over his spirit above him taking a city,

Wbstr He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.

KJB-1769 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
(He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that taketh/takes a city. )

KJB-1611 He that is slow to anger, is better then the mighty: and he that ruleth his spirit, then he that taketh a citie.
(He that is slow to anger, is better then the mighty: and he that rules his spirit, then he that taketh/takes a city.)

Bshps A patient man is better the one strong: and he that can rule hym selfe, is more worth then he that wynneth a citie.
(A patient man is better the one strong: and he that can rule himself, is more worth then he that winneth/wins a city.)

Gnva He that is slowe vnto anger, is better then the mightie man: and hee that ruleth his owne minde, is better then he that winneth a citie.
(He that is slow unto anger, is better then the mighty man: and he that rules his own mind, is better then he that winneth/wins a city. )

Cvdl A pacient man is better then one that is stroge: and he that can rule him selfe, is more worth then he yt wynneth a cite.
(A patient man is better then one that is stroge: and he that can rule himself, is more worth then he it winneth/wins a city.)

Wycl A pacient man is betere than a stronge man; and he that `is lord of his soule, is betere than an ouercomere of citees.
(A patient man is better than a strong man; and he that is lord of his soul, is better than an overcomer of cities.)

Luth Ein Geduldiger ist besser denn ein Starker, und der seines Muts Herr ist, denn der Städte gewinnet.
(A Geduldiger is better because/than a Starker, and the/of_the his courage/heart/spirits Lord is, because/than the/of_the cities wins/gains(v).)

ClVg Melior est patiens viro forti, et qui dominatur animo suo expugnatore urbium.[fn]
(Better it_is patient to_the_man brave, and who/which dominates in_mind his_own expugnatore of_cities. )

16.32 Melior est patiens viro forti, etc. Minor est victoria urbes expugnare, etc., usque ad et patientiæ humilitate substernit.

16.32 Better it_is patient to_the_man brave, etc. Minor it_is victory cities expugnare, etc., until to and patience humility substernit.

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

16:32

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^32a He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior,

^32band he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.

In the Hebrew, the second line is not a complete sentence but literally says, “and he who rules his spirit than the one who captures a city” (see the NIV). In some languages, the implied word “better” may need to be supplied from the first line. For example:

^32b better a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

This “better than” proverb has the same structure as the proverb in 16:16. See the note there for more details on this kind of proverb.

The overall meaning is that a patient man who controls his temper is better than a warrior who conquers a city. It implies that self-control is more important than the ability to conquer others. It does not imply that it is bad to be a warrior who conquers a city.

16:32a–b

(combined/reordered)

A person who is patient and controls his anger is better than a brave soldier who can defeat an entire city.

He who is slow to anger…he who controls his temper: The phrase that the BSB translates as He who is slow to anger refers to someone who does not easily or quickly become angry. Such a person is able to control his anger (see the note on 14:29a). The phrase translated as controls his temper is literally “rules his spirit.” It refers to someone who is able to control his emotions, and especially his anger/temper. So both phrases have almost the same meaning.

than a warrior…than one who captures a city: The word that the BSB translates as a warrior refers to someone who is especially strong or can accomplish great deeds. A good English equivalent is the word “hero” (CEV). The phrase one who captures a city refers to a soldier who defeats and captures a city in a battle.

Some other ways to translate the parallel lines of this verse are:

Patience is better than strength. Controlling your temper is better than capturing a city. (NCV)

Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city. (NLT)

General Comment on 16:32a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. For example:

Controlling your temper is better than being a hero who captures a city. (CEV)

See also 16:32a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

16:32a

He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior,

A person who does not easily get angry is better than a great hero.

16:32b

and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.

Someone who is able to control his anger is better than a soldier who can defeat a whole city.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

אֶ֣רֶךְ אַ֭פַּיִם מִ⁠גִּבּ֑וֹר וּ⁠מֹשֵׁ֥ל בְּ֝⁠רוּח֗⁠וֹ מִ⁠לֹּכֵ֥ד

long_of angers more,than_a_warrior and,[one_who]_rules over,his_of,spirit more,than_[one_who]_captures_of

Here, one long of nostrils, a mighty one, on who rules his spirit, and one who captures represent these types of people in general, not specific people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use more natural expressions. Alternate translation: “is any person long of nostrils than any mighty person, and any person who rules over that person’s spirit than any person who captures”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

אֶ֣רֶךְ אַ֭פַּיִם

long_of angers

See how you translated one long of nostrils in [14:29](../14/29.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

וּ⁠מֹשֵׁ֥ל בְּ֝⁠רוּח֗⁠וֹ

and,[one_who]_rules over,his_of,spirit

Solomon is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a clause would need in order to be complete. You could supply these words from the previous clause if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: “and better is one who rules his spirit”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

וּ⁠מֹשֵׁ֥ל בְּ֝⁠רוּח֗⁠וֹ

and,[one_who]_rules over,his_of,spirit

Here Solomon speaks of a person controlling his spirit as if it were a person who could be ruled over. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and one who controls his spirit”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בְּ֝⁠רוּח֗⁠וֹ

over,his_of,spirit

Here, spirit refers to a person’s emotions. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “his emotions”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

מִ⁠לֹּכֵ֥ד עִֽיר

more,than_[one_who]_captures_of (a)_city

Here Solomon speaks of a person conquering a city and capturing the people who live in it as if the city were a person who could be captured. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “than one who conquers a city”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit