inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Prov. 1:14)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For the first part of this verse (“throw in your lot with us” in English translations), translators typically select the exclusive form and for the second part (“we will all have one purse” in English translations), translators typically select the inclusive form.

The Jarai translation, however, uses the inclusive pronoun for both occurences.

Translation commentary on Proverbs 25:14

“Like clouds and wind without rain”: Again the Hebrew lacks the comparison marker equivalent to “Like”, but this meaning is clearly intended. The feature shared by “clouds” and “wind” and the person in line 2 is their failure to produce what is expected; Contemporary English Version renders this line as “rain clouds that don’t bring rain.”

“Is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give”: “A gift he does not give” is literally “a gift of falseness.” We may translate, for example, “The person who brags about gifts he never gives is like clouds and wind that give no rain” or “If people promise to give something and don’t give it, they are like the clouds and wind that come but there isn’t any rain [with them].”

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 .

Translation commentary on Proverbs 26:18-19

Verses 18-19 are a four-line saying in the form of a simile. Revised Standard Version follows the Hebrew order of the lines.

“Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows and death”: “A madman” is a crazy person, someone who lacks control over his acts. “Firebrands” is literally “flaming or burning arrows.” “Firebrands, arrows, and death” may be expressed as “deadly burning arrows” or “fiery arrows that kill people.” For people who do not understand “flaming arrows,” it may be possible to say “throws fire sticks” or “shoots deadly arrows.”

“Is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!””: “The man who deceives his neighbor” is a person who makes someone else believe something that is not true. The deceiver or joker cannot foresee the damage he is causing and so is like the crazy person shooting burning arrows in line 1. Contemporary English Version translates verses 18-19 “It is no crazier to shoot sharp and flaming arrows than to cheat someone and say, ‘I was only fooling!'”

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 .

Translation commentary on Proverbs 27:24

This verse gives the motive or reason for doing what is required of the herder in verse 23.

“For riches do not last for ever”: “Riches” renders a word meaning “that which is stored up,” “. . . put away,” “a treasure”; see 15.6 where it is rendered “treasure.” Some take this line to refer to wealth that has been gained by trading or commerce in contrast to the wealth of livestock. But it may also refer to the wealth or stored-up produce of the successful farmer.

“And does a crown endure to all generations?”: This line is in the form of a rhetorical question that may also be expressed as a strong negative. Many interpreters do not think that “a crown” is suitable in this context and so change it to a word meaning “treasure” or “wealth.” However, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project rates the Hebrew as “B” and recommends translating the whole verse “for riches do not last for ever; and does a diadem [crown] endure from age to age?” This is essentially the same as Revised Standard Version. Good News Translation has taken “crown” to refer to “nations.” Bible en français courant renders the whole verse “Indeed, riches do not last for ever: you know well that crowns are not handed down [inherited] indefinitely.”

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 .

Translation commentary on Proverbs 29:1

This saying is about the person who will not listen to advice; for other similar sayings see 13.18 and 15.10.

“He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck”: “He who is often reproved” is literally “a man of reproofs,” where “reproofs,” as in 1.23, refers to correction or warning. The Hebrew plural meaning “reproofs” is expressed by Revised Standard Version as “often reproved”. See Good News Translation “every time you are corrected.” “Stiffens his neck” is also used, for example, in Jer 7.26 and 17.23. To stiffen or harden your neck means to be stubborn, and in this context to oppose teaching or correction. See Good News Translation. In some languages the equivalent of “stiffens his neck” is “has a blind heart,” “hardens his head,” or “always says ‘No.'” Contemporary English Version translates this line “If you keep being stubborn after many warnings.”

“Will suddenly be broken beyond healing”: In Hebrew this line is identical to 6.15b. See there for comments.

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 .

Translation commentary on Proverbs 30:6

“Do not add to his words”: This is part of the command about God’s words given to the Israelites in Deut 4.2 and 12.32. Revised English Bible expresses this as “Add nothing to his words”; Good News Translation expresses the sense in different words: “If you claim that he said something that he never said. . ..”

“Lest he rebuke you, and you be found a liar”: New Revised Standard Version uses more current English here with “or else he will rebuke you. . ..” These are the two consequences of disobeying the command in the first line. To “rebuke” is to speak to someone or be angry with them about their faults; see 3.12 where it is rendered “reprove.” It may also be expressed as “He will correct you” (Contemporary English Version). “And you be found a liar” is a rendering of the passive form of the verb “tell a lie” or “be a liar.” In English it may be expressed as “prove you a liar” (New International Version, Scott) or “show that you are a liar” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). In translations in some other languages it is rendered “and everybody will know that you are a liar.”

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 .

Translation commentary on Proverbs 31:4

Verses 4-7 are the second warning given by Lemuel’s mother. This warning is about the dangers of alcoholic drinks.

“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine”: The repetition of “It is not for kings” adds emphasis to the warning; however, a literal translation in English does not really have that effect. Contemporary English Version avoids repeating the phrase, but gets emphasis by rendering the verb “Kings . . . should not get drunk.” Good News Translation also puts the emphasis at the beginning with “Listen, Lemuel. Kings should not. . ..” The expression “drink wine” does not in itself mean “drink to excess” or “get drunk,” and it is debatable whether that meaning should be understood here. However, the verb should probably be rendered as a habitual action: “Kings should not make a habit of drinking wine.” For “wine” see 9.2.

“Or for rulers to desire strong drink”: This line is parallel to the previous line. “Rulers” is the matching term for “kings”, and “strong drink” matches “wine”. For “rulers” see 8.15, and for “strong drink” see 20.1. The Hebrew rendered “strong drink” is derived from a verb meaning “be intoxicated”; so the Good News Translation rendering “alcohol” is quite correct. But as a term parallel to “wine”, something like “beer” (Scott, New International Version) or “liquor” (New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible) is also acceptable. The word that stands in the Hebrew text before “strong drink” may mean something like “where” or “or”; however, most translations understand a verb like “desire”, “crave,” “love,” or “want” here, and Hebrew Old Testament Text Project supports this interpretation.

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 .

Translation commentary on Proverbs 1:13

Not only will the sinners kill the innocent; they will also rob them.

“We shall find all precious goods”: “Find” means to “seize,” “capture,” or “take away.” “Precious” is used in Job 28.16 to refer to gems of great value. “Goods” translates a noun used a number of times in Proverbs in the sense of “wealth” or “possessions.” The context makes clear that “precious goods” refers to highly prized material goods taken as loot.

“Fill our houses with spoil”: “Fill” does not mean to fill to overflowing as with a liquid; it has the sense of putting a lot of things in. Moffatt says “cram our houses.” “Spoil” refers to the goods and property that are taken from the slain victims. For a model translation see Good News Translation.

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 .