13:7

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

7a One pretends to be rich, but has nothing ;

7b another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

This proverb refers to people who give false impressions about their wealth or poverty. It teaches that a person’s true situation may be quite different from what it seems to be. So people should not be deceived by outward appearances or circumstances.

13:7a–b

One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth: The phrases has nothing and has great wealth are examples of hyperbole (deliberate exaggeration for the sake of emphasis).

Verse 13:7a means that some people pretend to be rich, but actually have very little. They are actually poor. It does not mean that they literally own nothing. Verse 13:7b means that some people pretend to be poor, but actually they are rich.

In some languages, a literal translation of these hyperboles may express the wrong meaning. Another way to translate the verse without these figures of speech is:

Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor. (New Living Translation (2004))

Notice that the New Living Translation (2004) also changes the word order within the two clauses. You should use whatever order is more natural in your language.

Many languages have idioms for people who are rich and people who are poor. You may be able to use such idioms to add vividness or emphasis to this proverb, especially if you decide not to use hyperbole.

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