“A slave when he becomes king”: This refers to a striking change of fortune. The term “slave” may refer to a person with a very low status in society, or possibly to someone who was an officer in the service of a ruler (but still well below the ruler in rank). The “king” is the person who has the highest status in his country. It is not stated, but the whole saying assumes what people often observe: that “a slave” who “becomes king” is likely to behave in an arrogant and pretentious way.

“And a fool when he is filled with food”: “A fool”, as in 17.7, may refer to someone of low social status or someone whose behavior is socially unacceptable. In this case we may assume that what is unbearable is the way such a person gorges himself with food when there is plenty to eat. Revised English Bible suggests this with “a fool gorging himself”; and Contemporary English Version is similar with “a fool who eats too much.” But “a fool” may also mean someone who is ignorant or who refuses to learn. In this case such a person is much better off than he deserves to be if he is “filled with food”, that is, he “has all he wants to eat” (Good News Translation), or “he becomes wealthy” (taking the literal “filled with bread” as a figure of speech referring to wealth). Translators may choose to follow either of these approaches.

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 .