6:49a–b
But: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But introduces an opposite example. Another way to translate this conjunction is:
However
the one who hears My words and does not act on them: The person described in this clause does not obey Jesus’ teaching. Translate this clause in a way that shows this man to be the direct opposite of the man in 6:47b–c. For example:
the person who hears what I say but does not obey
-or-
the person who hears what I tell him to do but does not do it
and: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and connects two actions: hearing Jesus’ words and not obeying them. Normally we would expect someone who comes to Jesus and hears his teaching to be ready to obey it. This person does not obey Jesus’ teaching.
In some languages, it may be more natural to use a contrast connector like “but.” For example:
hears my words but does not obey
Connect these clauses in a natural way in your language.
6:49c–d
is like a man who built his house on ground without a foundation: Unlike the man in 6:48a–b, this man did not build a solid foundation for his house. Instead, he built it directly on the surface of the earth. He did not dig down to the bedrock.
6:49e
The torrent crashed against that house, and immediately it fell: In Greek, the structure of this clause is parallel to what happened to the first house in 6:48c–d. Some other ways to translate this are:
As soon as the river rushed against that house, it was smashed (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
As soon as the river burst upon it, the house collapsed (Revised English Bible)
It may be good style in some languages to keep the examples of the two houses similar in structure.
fell: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fell here means “fell down.” The river washed out the earth from under the house, and it quickly fell down. For example:
the house quickly fell (New Century Version)
6:49f
great was its destruction: The phrase great was its destruction means “it was completely destroyed.”
In some languages, there may be an idiom or a more descriptive way to express that the house was completely destroyed. For example:
it was smashed to pieces (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
collapse into a heap of ruins (New Living Translation (2004))
If it is more natural in your language to use an active verb, you could say:
⌊the waters⌋ destroyed it completely
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