20:6

In this proverb, the two lines contrast, but the underlined parallel parts are similar in meaning. They do not contrast.

6a Many a man proclaims his loving devotion,

6b but who can find a trustworthy man?

This proverb contrasts what people claim to be and what they are actually like. Many people claim to be loyal to others. But it is very difficult to find someone who is truly loyal.

20:6a

Many a man proclaims his loving devotion: The phrase Many a man refers to people in general. Most people describe themselves as loyal to their friends and family. They say that they can be trusted to show love and kindness to others. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Many describe themselves as people of faithful love (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Many will say they are loyal friends (New Living Translation (2004))

loving devotion: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as loving devotion has three aspects of meaning: loyalty, love, and kindness. The Berean Standard Bible and New Jerusalem Bible both express two aspects of meaning. In some languages, it may be more natural to express only one aspect of meaning. If that is true in your language, you should focus on loyalty because of the parallel with “faithful” in 20:6b. See the note on “love” in 3:3a.

20:6b

but who can find a trustworthy man?: This is a rhetorical question that contains hyperbole. The implied answer is that no one can find a faithful man.

The function of this rhetorical question is to emphasize the contrast with 20:6a. Although many people claim to be loyal, few if any are truly trustworthy and reliable. It is difficult to find even one person who is truly loyal.

Some ways to express this emphatic contrast are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

but who can find one who is truly reliable? (New Living Translation (2004))

• As a statement. For example:

but it is hard to find a trustworthy person (New Century Version)

General Comment on 20:6a–b

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

There are many who say, “You can trust me!” But can they be trusted? (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Everyone talks about how loyal and faithful he is, but just try to find someone who really is! (Good News Translation)

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