A Word For The Wise
1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
One
of the more interesting exercises we did while I was taking ministry classes at
Whitworth College was to transpose a story which one of our classmates spoke to
us. An oral presentation of that story would be put into writing, and then
passed to a different classmate who would rewrite it into a style which would
be best understood by the community in which they lived.
The
story was then passed to another classmate who would rewrite it so that those
who lived in their community 4 or 5 generations from now could still understand
its meaning. As you can imagine, the lengths of the story, or the words which
were used, or even the writing styles all changed as the stories were passed
from one hand to the other, but what we found most interesting is that the
meaning of the story never changed. For all of the rewrites and re-edits, the
stories held onto what the original storyteller had always intended.
It
was explained that this is how many of the stories within the bible came to be;
starting out as an oral presentation and ending up written, edited, re-written,
and re-edited for each generation and each community to understand. This
practice continued until those stories got printed, seemingly once and for all,
in the collection of books we know as our bible.
Then,
when I was completing my Old Testament course with Vancouver School of Theology,
I was delighted when the professor used the same technique to help us
understand the Old Testament better. However, our professor, who was a
well-established scholar of the Old Testament, introduced to us an extra step –
after having us rewrite the story for the third time she had us translate it into
a different language.
We
all had to admit that we didn’t know the rules of grammar or enough vocabulary
of another language to do that exercise, but she pushed us along. One of our
classmates actually knew the Hawaiian language enough for us to take one of the
stories, the shortest one, and translate it into Hawaiian. We found that to be
a difficult task because the Hawaiian language, or at least as much as our
classmate knew, didn’t have words or phrases which could be translated directly
from the English language. We had to discuss the main idea of the phrase or
word which was written in English, and somehow translate that idea as closely
as possible using what little Hawaiian we knew.
We
never got to finish that exercise, mostly because time was running out.
However, we understood what it must have been like for the translators of the
bible to take words which were written in ancient Hebrew or Greek, or in Latin,
and do their best to bring an understanding to the first bible written in
English: the King James Version. It must also have taken the translators of the
bible quite some time and discussion to bring to us the many bibles we have
written for us in the English language today, many of which try to duplicate an
idea for an idea instead of word for word as did the KJV.
Today,
I want to use this translation exercise to help bring a closer meaning to what
I see the young King Solomon asking for in verse 9 of today’s passage. Please
bear with me if this feels more like a classroom lecture than a sermon, but I
honestly believe you’ll have a deeper meaning to today’s passage when we are
done.
You
should have all gotten a copy of the Hawaiian and English versions of the verse we’ll be focusing on today, if not
please raise your hand so we can get one to you. In school we would call this a
worksheet, so let’s all look at our worksheet. On your worksheets you’ll see a
place to jot down the best definitions for the words which will be translated.
Let’s
begin with the first part of that verse, “Nolaila, e haawi mai oe i naauao i
kau kauwa nei e hoomalu i kou poe kanaka,” The first word, “Nolaila: simply
means “so” as in “So, what do you think so far?” Many of the other words are
what literary people would call fillers – the, of, my, yours, and such. So, the
first word I’ve highlighted is “ha’awai”, which means to give freely. Here,
Solomon is asking God to freely give, as one would freely give a gift to a
child or give a hug to someone who is sad.
The
next word I want to define is “na’auao”, or knowledge. This, however, is not
knowledge one already has, but the knowledge one gets in the process of
learning. It is not something already obtained, rather something one is
acquiring. Kind of like how you’re all receiving “na’auao” as we go through this
list of words together.
The
next word needs a little deeper of an explanation. Let me begin with the
prefix, “ho’o”, which means to make happen, to bring to fruition, to ensure the
completion of something. This will be helpful as we get to a couple of our
other words. “Malu” is loosely translated as shade. But the shade which this
word represents is not merely a shadow cast by an object; this word literally
means the protection which shade can bring. “Ho’omalu”, then, reflects
Solomon’s desire to bring God’s people into a place of safety, a place where
they can be protected by the “shade” which God provides.
Let’s
take a look at the second part of today’s verse. “I hiki ia'u ke hookaawale
mawaena o ka pono a me ka hewa.” Again, most of these words are possessive
descriptors or articles such as “the” or “a” or words such as “of”. So I want
to focus on the three words which I think lie at the heart of Solomon’s
request: “ho’oka’awale”, “mawena”, and “pono”.
We
see in that first word the prefix, “ho’o” again, so we know something will need
to come to completion. That thing would be “ka’awale”, or separation. The definition
of “ka’awale” is to divide into different parts, or to segregate according to
similarities. The next word, “mawaena” simply means between, as in making a
choice between this or that. Here we are to understand that Solomon wants the
ability to recognize certain things to the point where he can completely
understand what is similar and different between them.
That
thing Solomon wants to understand is what makes things “pono” or “hewa”. Those
who understand Hawaiian know I just used the words which are translated as good
and evil; “pono” and “hewa”. However, the idea of “pono” and “hewa” go so much
deeper than good or evil. When something is “pono” it is in harmony with all
living things. To be “pono” is to to be in such a way where everything is at
peace, where all is at rest in your soul and in the life-force of everything
God created.
To
be “pono” is what God intended for God’s creation. It is what Jesus so often
reminds us when he says to love God with all our being and to love each other
and ourselves in the same way. To live “pono” is to live in the realization of
hope fulfilled; to live with the joy, peace, and love God created us to share
with one another, ourselves, God, and creation from the beginning of time.
“Hewa”
is the exact opposite of that. “Hewa” is when things are out of balance, when
the disruption in creation’s life force is out of sync and therefore out of our
selves and out of all of creation which surrounds us. There is no peace, love,
or joy in “hewa”, and if not taken care of “hewa” will eventually destroy hope.
We’ve
come to the final portion of today’s verse. Owai la ka mea e hiki ia ia ke
hooponopono i kou lahuikanaka he nui loa me neia. The words which I have chosen
to focus on are “owai” and “hooponopono” and the phrase, “kou lahuikanaka he
nui loa me neia.”
I
want to say that the word “owai” has become my most favorite word in this whole
verse. “Owai” means to entwine as in weaving. When I let this word fill my mind
and heart I began visualizing Solomon’s request to be more than the giving of
understanding, but the ability to weave together the concept of “pono” with all
of God’s people, himself, creation, and God. I literally saw Solomon working
with God to enrich the lives of God’s people by bringing everyone and
everything together under one love, one God. “Owai”, in its simplest form might
mean to weave, but in the context of today’s verse I think it holds a much
deeper meaning; bringing together what are now “loose threads” into a tapestry
so grand that it would be worthy of hanging in the halls of God’s kingdom.
Our
next word has that great prefix again, “ho’o”. However, this time its followed
by a word which duplicates itself, “ponopono”. We already understand the
concept of “pono”, so let me explain what is meant by “ponopono”. When a word
is doubled in the Hawaiian language it also doubles its meaning. So,
“ho’oponopono” would not just mean to bring to completion harmony in the world,
it would mean to really, really, really bring to completion harmony within the
world.
Another
point I need to make about “ho’oponopono” is that in the Hawaiian culture this
can be done only through a priest. “Ho’oponopono” can only become reality if
the one doing it is appointed by God. In this case, that person would be
Solomon.
The
phrase, “kou lahuikanaka he nui loa me neia” is Solomon saying to God, “your
great people of this, your greatest nation.”
So,
there we have it; today’s exercise in translation. If it’s okay with you I
would like you to turn to your neighbor and see if you can write your own
translation of the verse from today in the space provided on your worksheet.
What you’re going to use are the words, ideas, and concepts which were
discussed and try, as best as you are able, to see if you can keep the same
ideas which the translators of the Hawaiian bible had. Of course, you will be
writing in English. If you need reminders as to what the words mean there is an
answer key on the back.
God
is with us Always. Amen.
Solomon’s Request Worksheet
(aka “A Word For The Wise”)
·
Nolaila, e haawi mai oe i naauao i kau
kauwa nei e hoomalu i kou poe kanaka,
o
Please give your servant a discerning
mind in order to govern your people
§ Haawi
–________________________________________________
§ Naauao
– _______________________________________________
§ Hoomalu
·
Ho’o – ____________________________________________
·
Malu – ____________________________________________
·
i hiki ia'u ke hookaawale mawaena o ka
pono a me ka hewa
o
And to distinguish between good from
evil
§ Hookaawale
·
Ho’o –_________________________________________
·
Ka’awale – ____________________________________________
§ Mawaena
– ______________________________________________
§ Pono
v. hewa
·
Pono – ____________________________________________
·
Hewa – ____________________________________________
·
owai la ka mea e hiki ia ia ke hooponopono
i kou lahuikanaka he nui loa me neia.
o
because no one is able to govern this
important people of yours without your help
§ Owai
– __________________________________________________
§ Hooponopono
– ___________________________________________
§ Kou
lahuikanaka he nui loa me neia – _____________________________________________________________
·
Hawaiian version – Nolaila, e haawi mai
oe i naauao i kau kauwa nei e hoomalu i kou poe kanaka, i hiki ia'u ke
hookaawale mawaena o ka pono a me ka hewa; no ka mea, owai la ka mea e hiki ia
ia ke hooponopono i kou lahuikanaka he nui loa me neia.
·
English version – Please give your
servant a discerning mind in order to govern your people and to distinguish
between good from evil because no one is able to govern this important people
of yours without your help
·
Your version – ______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Solomon’s Request Answer Key
(aka “A Word For The Wise”)
·
Nolaila, e haawi mai oe i naauao i kau
kauwa nei e hoomalu i kou poe kanaka,
o
Please give your servant a discerning
mind in order to govern your people
§ Haawi
– to give freely, by choice
§ Naauao
– knowledge, as in to learn
§ Hoomalu
·
Ho’o –to bring to fruition, to make
happen, to ensure completion
·
Malu – shade, as in shelter or
protection from
·
i hiki ia'u ke hookaawale mawaena o ka
pono a me ka hewa
o
And to distinguish between good from
evil
§ Hookaawale
·
Ho’o –to bring to fruition, to make
happen, to ensure completion
·
Ka’awale – separate
§ Mawaena
– between
§ Pono
v. hewa
·
Pono – all things in harmony.
·
Hewa – a disruption in the harmony of
all things
·
owai la ka mea e hiki ia ia ke hooponopono
i kou lahuikanaka he nui loa me neia.
o
because no one is able to govern this
important people of yours without your help
§ Owai
– entwine, to weave
§ Hooponopono
– to completely and without flaw bring all things into harmony
§ Kou
lahuikanaka he nui loa me neia – your great people of this, your greatest
nation.”
·
Hawaiian version – Nolaila, e haawi mai
oe i naauao i kau kauwa nei e hoomalu i kou poe kanaka, i hiki ia'u ke
hookaawale mawaena o ka pono a me ka hewa; no ka mea, owai la ka mea e hiki ia
ia ke hooponopono i kou lahuikanaka he nui loa me neia.
·
English version – Please give your
servant a discerning mind in order to govern your people and to distinguish
between good from evil because no one is able to govern this important people
of yours without your help
·
Pastor Randy’s version – So, I ask you
to freely give to me the ability to learn how to create a place of safety for
your people and to be able to distinguish between when things are in harmony
(with God, each other, ourselves, and creation) or not in harmony, because only
if we are woven together can we bring all things into complete harmony for the
great people of this, the greatest of nations.
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