“When you sit down to eat with a ruler”: This is the setting for the advice that follows. “Sit down to eat with” suggests that the person has been invited to the table of the “ruler”; so Contemporary English Version begins “When you are invited. . ..” Some translations use the word “dine” in English to give the sense of a formal meal with someone wealthy or important. The Hebrew word translated “ruler” is a verb participle meaning “one who rules”; this may also be rendered “king” (Contemporary English Version), “a great man” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “someone important” (Good News Translation). In different parts of the world terms like “prince,” “chief,” and even “politician” may be suitable equivalents.

“Observe carefully what is before you”: The expression “observe carefully” is an emphatic construction in Hebrew using the verb that means “discern,” “have understanding,” or “consider.” “What is before you” refers to the food on the table, and this reference would lead into the advice of the next verse: “Think carefully about all that food on the table; and if. . ..” It is possible, however, to understand the Hebrew as “whose presence you are in,” referring to the important person; in this case the sense would be: “Keep in mind who he is, and if. . ..” Scott understands the reference to be to the food, but then takes the line to mean “Pay attention to your table manners,” that is, “. . . how you eat” (compare Contemporary English Version, “use your best manners”). All of the above are models that translators may follow.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .