“He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice”: “Blesses” may refer to giving a greeting or to a literal blessing. Most modern translations take it as a verbal greeting. The “loud voice” awakens neighbors who do not want to be disturbed early in the morning.

“Rising early in the morning” is taken by some to be an addition to the text, but Hebrew Old Testament Text Project rates it as “A” and interprets it as meaning “every morning, when he rises.” We may translate, for example, “If you call out a loud greeting to your neighbor every morning when you get up. . ..”

“Will be counted as cursing” is literally “a curse will be reckoned to him.” This may mean that the neighbor is receiving a curse instead of a greeting or blessing, or that those who hear it will consider the greeting or blessing as a curse. For “cursing” refer to 26.2, where “curse” is used. Bible en français courant translates the verse “If someone greets his neighbor loudly at daybreak, his greeting will be considered an insult.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “To greet a friend with shouts in the early morning is to the friend the same as insulting him.” Contemporary English Version says “A loud greeting early in the morning is the same as a curse.” :In one Pacific language the saying is translated “If you use a big mouth and say ‘Good day’ to your friend in the early morning, that is the same as abusing him.”

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 .