complete verse (Proverbs 10:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 10:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “(A) person whose ways are perfect/pure lives in peace,
    but the one whose (ways) are crooked, his words/matters will be revealed.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Honest people are able to go fearlessly.
    Dishonest people will be exposed.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A man who lives without blame will- not -be-harmed, but a man who lives unrighteously/[lit. not right] his sin will-be-known.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There-is-nothing for-you (sing.)-to-worry-about if all/totally right is what you (sing.) are doing, but one-who-follows a crooked path, his craftiness will-become-known.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Honest people will be safe,
    but others (OR, God) will find out those who are dishonest.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 10:9

“He who walks in integrity walks securely”: The Hebrew of this line has eight syllables with repeating vowels and consonants: holek batom yelek betach. “Walks” in the Old Testament refers to manner of living. For “walks in integrity” see 2.7. For “walks securely” see 3.23.

“But he who perverts his ways will be found out”: “Perverts his ways” is literally “makes his paths crooked,” that is, “behaves deceitfully.” “Found out” is literally “will be known.” This may refer to being found out by other people, but it may also refer to being found out by God, just as it is the Lord in 2.7 who provides protection for those who “walk in integrity”. Many modern versions, like Good News Translation, use passive constructions: “the dishonest will be caught.” In languages in which a passive cannot be used here, it may be necessary to say, for example, “but God will catch dishonest people” or “but people will find out those who are dishonest.”

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 10:9

10:9

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

9a
He who walks in integrity walks securely,

9b but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

See the Section 4:10–19 summary for more information about the metaphor of walking on a path. Similar metaphors are used frequently in Proverbs.

10:9a

He who walks in integrity: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “whoever walks in blamelessness.” The word “blamelessness” has the underlying meaning of completeness or perfection. It refers to consistent, flawless, moral goodness. This phrase is almost identical to the one found in 2:7b. See the note there.

walks securely: This phrase indicates that the LORD protects a person who lives a blameless life so that he has nothing to fear.

Notice that in Hebrew a form of the word “walk” occurs in both phrases of this line. This repetition adds emphasis and makes the proverb easier to remember. Some English versions have kept this repetition. For example:

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
He who lives blamelessly lives safely (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

You will have to decide if it is effective to use repetition like this in your language.

10:9b

but he who perverts his ways: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “but the one who makes crooked his ways.” It refers to a person who deliberately deceives other people or behaves dishonestly. You are encouraged to keep the “paths/ways” metaphor if possible. If it is not possible, you may translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

if you are dishonest (Contemporary English Version)

will be found out: This phrase indicates that his deceitfulness will become known, perhaps by his fellow men, but especially by the LORD. It is implied that he will then be punished. Some English versions have used the verb “caught.” This word implies future judgment or punishment. For example:

but the dishonest will be caught (Good News Translation)

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