Translation commentary on Proverbs 15:15

This saying again contrasts the state of persons who are happy with that of those who are unhappy.

“All the days of the afflicted are evil”: “Afflicted” renders the word translated “poor” in 14.21. The word is used elsewhere as meaning “bowed down” whether through misfortune or mistreatment. Other senses are “humbled,” “weak,” or “pious.” New Revised Standard Version has revised Revised Standard Version to say “poor,” which is also the rendering of Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, and others. Bible en français courant and Traduction Œcuménique de la Bible say “unfortunate,” New International Version “oppressed,” New English Bible/Revised English Bible “downtrodden,” and Scott “miserable.” “Evil” translates the same Hebrew word rendered “severe” in verse 10. “Evil” in relation to “all the days” refers to a difficult, hard, or troublesome life. The clear sense of this line is “Poor people live a hard life” or “The life of the poor is harsh.”

“But a cheerful heart has a continual feast”: This line refers to people who are happy. There are two main ways to understand what it says: (1) that “cheerful heart” parallels and contrasts with “the afflicted” who suffer a hard life (that is, it refers to a different group of people); or (2) that in spite of being poor, “a cheerful heart” enables poor people (those referred to in the previous line) to enjoy life. Both understandings are acceptable. Bible en français courant follows the first view: “The unfortunate person lives always in suffering. The happy person lives in a constant feast.” Translated according to the second view we may say, for example, “Although the life of the poor is lived in suffering, a happy heart makes life like a constant feast” or “A person who is short of everything feels no good and always has big troubles. But if he is contented and happy, every day is like a party day.”

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 .

complete verse (Proverbs 15:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 15:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “A poor person feels defeated every day,
    but the one who has enough things is always happy.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “It is always difficult for the poor to survive,
    But for those who are content
    there is always a feast.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The life of the poor is always hard, but if they will- just -be-content they will- always -be very happy.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Every-day the life of a unfortunate/pitiable-person is difficult, but the happy person, he continually enjoys his life.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Those who are oppressed constantly have difficulties,
    but those who (OR, if they) are happy, it is as though they are having a big feast every day.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 15:15

15:15

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

15a
All the days of the oppressed are bad,

15b but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Within these contrasting parts is a pair with similar meanings—“all the days” and “continual.”

15:15a–b

the oppressed…a cheerful heart: There are two ways to interpret this proverb. The contrasting phrases the oppressed and a cheerful heart may refer to the same person or to different people:

(1) They refer to the same person. A cheerful heart can enable an oppressed person to find enjoyment in life, even though his outward circumstances are difficult.

(2) They refer to different people. Oppressed people have a difficult/miserable life, but happy people enjoy life, ⌊whether or not they are oppressed⌋ .

Both interpretations fit the context. Most scholars prefer interpretation (1). The English versions used in these Notes allow either meaning to be understood. It is recommended that you also translate in a way that allows either meaning.

15:15a

All the days of the oppressed are bad: The phrase All the days refers to the daily experiences throughout the life of a person who is oppressed. Every day, such a person’s life is bad. Here the word means “harsh,” “severe,” “extremely difficult.” (The Berean Standard Bible translated the same Hebrew word as “harsh” in 15:10a. See the note there.)

the oppressed: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as the oppressed is often used as a parallel pair with similar words that mean “poor” and “needy.” But in this context, the word may specifically imply someone who is suffering some kind of distress. This distress may be either physical or mental/emotional. If possible, use a term in your translation that can refer to either one.

Some English versions translate this word as “poor.” Such a translation may be adequate if the rest of the line clearly refers to extreme difficulty or suffering. Some ways to express this meaning are:

The life of the poor is a constant struggle (Good News Translation)
-or-
Every day is hard for those who suffer (New Century Version)
-or-
To the downtrodden every day is wretched (Revised English Bible)

For more information on the Hebrew word that is used here, see the note in 14:21b.

15:15b

but a cheerful heart has a continual feast: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as cheerful heart has the same meaning as “joyful heart” in 15:13a. The situation of a person with inner happiness is compared here to a continual feast. A person at a feast or banquet is able to enjoy the finest food and drink. Similarly, a person with a cheerful/happy attitude is always able to find enjoyment and satisfaction in his life.

In some languages, a literal translation of this metaphor may wrongly imply that a cheerful person frequently attends feasts. Some other ways to translate this metaphor are:

• Change the metaphor to a simile. Make the similarity explicit if necessary. For example:

but a happy person always enjoys ⌊life like someone at⌋ a feast that never ends

• State the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

but happy people always enjoy life (Good News Translation)

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