A second conditional clause concludes this small subunit dealing with possible dangers in the workplace. It uses the illustration of a snake, which we may identify as the keyword binding verses 8-11. Verse 11 is also marked by many words that contain the sh sound, a small stylistic feature, probably meant to imitate the sound of a snake. The verse, however, is not without its problems for the translator.

If the serpent bites before it is charmed: the conditional marker If is the same as for verse 10, namely, identifying another illustration. Serpent or “snake” is a general term, but here it seems to refer to a venomous snake, though we cannot know which one. In translating charmed, if readers are familiar with the practice of charming snakes, it is best to choose a snake that is subject to this practice.

Bites is a verb used mainly of snakes in the Old Testament (see Num 21.6), but it is not exclusive to them. The major problem is that we cannot easily determine who is the object of the verb bites. Is it the charmer, or is it someone else? From the general context in which people are at risk in their work, we conclude that the one at risk of being bitten is the snake charmer.

The time phrase before it is charmed produces another sound effect, as the Hebrew terms for “snake” and “charm” are similar. In some languages it will be difficult to place a time clause at this point, and some reordering will have to take place, such as “If a snake has not yet been charmed, and then it bites its owner [charmer], there’s no profit in that!” New American Bible understands the time phrase as giving a reason why the snake bites, when it says “… because it has not been charmed.” However, the weight of evidence would suggest that this is not the correct sense.

Is charmed refers to the use of words, actions, or music that appear to have an almost magical effect on the snake. Although snakes do not have a sense of hearing, people in many cultures believe they can be charmed in this way. Is charmed then means that a person has control over the snake. Where charming snakes is unknown, translators may use a descriptive phrase like “before it is under a person’s control” or “before it can be subdued.”

There is no advantage in a charmer represents the concluding portion of the conditional clause. In Hebrew it is introduced by the conjunction, which we can render as “then.” We observe that this phrase again uses the keyword yithron “lasting benefit,” as did verse 10, but here it is in a negative context. Rather than translating as we have elsewhere, it is probably better to use a verbal expression like “the charmer gains nothing” or “he profits nothing.” Alternatively we can interpret this expression as being ironic; “If the charmer gets bitten before the snake is charmed, there certainly is no lasting advantage for him!”

A charmer is the Revised Standard Version rendering of an unusual Hebrew phrase, literally “master of the tongue.” It may describe someone with the gift of clever speech. However, most commentators think that in the present context it refers to the snake charmer. “Tongue” in this context possibly represents the snake itself; if this is the case, this is an indirect reference to the charmer who owns the snake. New Jerusalem Bible takes the meaning “master” to mean someone well qualified in his job, translating “the trained charmer.” It seems certain that this expression was chosen for stylistic reasons; in Hebrew the word “tongue” sounds like “charmed” as well as like “snake.” It also ends with the same sound as yithron. Even the expression “master of the tongue” imitates the sounds in the Hebrew phrase “before it is charmed.” As such wordplays will be almost impossible to render in other languages, the translator should attempt to translate the meaning. For example, “the one who charms [or, controls] snakes.” We may also wish to add the slight meaning difference suggested by New Jerusalem Bible, “the one skilled in handling snakes.”

Good News Translation brings this second half of the saying to the beginning of the clause for emphasis. It then freely renders the phrase and certainly catches the spirit of the verse with its rendering “knowing how to charm a snake is of no use if….” Good News Translation is a good model to follow, or we can translate:

• If a snake bites the charmer before it is charmed, he [the charmer] gains nothing.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Zogbo, Lynell. A Handbook on the Book of Ecclesiates. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .