6:25a–b
This woe is the opposite of the blessing in 6:21a–b. The contrast is as follows: Those who are hungry long for God to satisfy them. They are “blessed.” Those who are “full” have already satisfied their hunger. They are in trouble.
Try to make this clear in your translation by using terms or expressions that correspond to those you used in 6:21a–b.
6:25a
Woe to you: Translate this the same way you did in 6:24a.
who are well fed now: The phrase who are well fed now refers to people who have more than enough to eat on this earth. They are satisfied. Another way to translate this is:
you who are full now (Good News Translation)
now: Luke used the word now to emphasize a present situation.
6:25b
for: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the reason why those “who are well fed” are in trouble. They are in trouble because now is the only time when they will be well-fed. Later they will be hungry.
you will hunger: Some English versions use an English idiom to translate the Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as you will hunger. For example:
you will go hungry (New International Version)
The people who “are well fed” (6:25a) already have all the food that they need. However, when they face God’s judgment, they will no longer be well-fed. They will be hungry.
Some Bible scholars interpret the word hunger here in a figurative sense, as referring to people not being satisfied or having all they want. If you have a word that could be interpreted either way, it may be appropriate here.
will hunger: The Greek verb tense refers to future time. It is in direct contrast with the present situation (emphasized by “now”).
6:25c–d
This woe is the opposite of the blessing in 6:21c–d. This is the contrast: Those who mourn and weep now will have great rejoicing in God’s kingdom. They are “blessed.” Those who laugh in this life are in trouble.
Try to make this clear in your translation by using terms or expressions that correspond to those that you used in 6:21c–d.
6:25c
Woe to you: Translate this the same way you did in 6:24a.
who laugh now: As in 6:21d, the word laugh here refers to laughing from happiness or joy. These people do not know sadness and grief in this life, but live a life of ease and happiness.
now: Luke used the word now to emphasize a present situation.
6:25d
for: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the reason why people who laugh now are in trouble. They are in trouble because they will laugh only in this life. Later they will mourn and weep.
you will mourn and weep: The two verbs mourn and weep are a doublet. They have a very similar meaning. Together they emphasize the one idea of being sad. In some languages, stating the same idea in two different ways may not be a natural way to add emphasis. If your language is like that, you may translate both verbs by one verb. For example:
you(plur) will be very sorrowful
-or-
you will weep from sorrow
mourn: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as mourn also means “be sad” or “grieve.” People often mourn when someone dies. Another way to translate this is:
be sad (New Century Version)
weep: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as weep also means “cry.” For example:
cry (God’s Word)
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