12:15 The way of a fool 1 is right 2 in his own opinion, 3
but the one who listens to advice is wise. 4
19:20 Listen to advice 5 and receive discipline,
that 6 you may become wise 7 by the end of your life. 8
1 sn The way of a fool describes a headlong course of actions (“way” is an idiom for conduct) that is not abandoned even when wise advice is offered.
2 sn The fool believes that his own plans and ideas are perfect or “right” (יָשָׁר, yashar); he is satisfied with his own opinion.
3 tn Heb “in his own eyes.”
4 tn Or “a wise person listens to advice” (cf. NIV, NRSV, TEV, CEV, NLT).
5 sn The advice refers in all probability to the teachings of the sages that will make one wise.
6 tn The proverb is one continuous thought, but the second half of the verse provides the purpose for the imperatives of the first half.
7 tn The imperfect tense has the nuance of a final imperfect in a purpose clause, and so is translated “that you may become wise” (cf. NAB, NRSV).
8 tn Heb “become wise in your latter end” (cf. KJV, ASV) which could obviously be misunderstood.