“Like a bird that strays from its nest”: “A bird” translates the same word as used in 6.5. See there for comments. “Strays” or “wanders” is taken by Whybray to mean exile or banishment in contrast with willful departure. Birds, however, may fly great distances from their nests and return. They do not send themselves into exile. The comparison is clear without requiring a forced leaving of the nest.

“Is a man who strays from his home”: “Strays” translates the same verb as used in line 1. “His home” is literally “his place” and probably refers to the place where the person has a sense of belonging. “Home” is quite accurate for English. In some languages this is expressed as “his fireside,” “his garden plot,” or “his river bend.” The point of comparison in the simile is probably that those who are away from the place where they belong are cut off (or, cut themselves off) from the security of family and from their family responsibilities. This may need to be expressed in translation if it is not clear to readers from a literal rendering.

Translators may find it more natural to reverse the order of the lines in this simile and say, for example, “A person who wanders far from his home is like a bird that wanders far from its nest.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .