complete verse (Proverbs 17:2 in Southern Sotho)

This verse is translated in the Southern Sotho Bibele of 1989 as

Mohlanka ya masene
a ka busa mora
a busa mora ya sethoto wa monga hae
a arolelwa lefa jwalo ka bana ba monga hae

Or

“a wise servant
can rule over a son,
rule over a stupid son of his master,
benefit from the inheritance like the children of his master.”

In this example, the most prominent oral feature that is represented in the Hebrew text is syntactic parallelism. This means that an argument about “a wise servant” is presented in a “staircase format.” The wise servant can do two things: (a) rule over a stupid son (b) so that ultimately, he (the wise son) benefits from the inheritance of his (stupid son) master exactly the way his master’s children will benefit. The “staircase format”, or building up of an argument or rather the syntactic parallelism of the Hebrew text is clearly represented and further enhanced [in the Southern Sotho translation] by the repetition of “he will rule over a shameful son.”

(Source: Tshokolo J. Makutoane in Religions 2024, 15(2), p. 190)

complete verse (Proverbs 17:2)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 17:2:

  • Kupsabiny: “A focused/upright servant is exalted rather than a boy/son who brings shame (on others).
    That servant is given an inheritance like the sons of that family.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “A good servant might take the place of a evil son,
    and might even share the inheritance with the other sons
    [Lit.: like the brothers].” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A wise servant will-rule-over a shameful child of his master, and he will-be-given an inheritance together with the other children of his master.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “A wise slave will rule-over the child of his master whose behavior is shameful and he will replace him in inheriting-along-with his siblings.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “A slave who acts wisely will some day be the boss of his master’s disgraceful son
    and when his master dies, the slave will receive part of his master’s possessions.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 17:2

This saying speaks of a son who brings shame on his family and is replaced by a slave who then inherits in the son’s place.

“A slave who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully”: “A slave” refers to a servant who is subjected to the total authority of a master. “Deals wisely” can mean to be clever or to act wisely, even morally (see 14.35). Good News Translation prefers “shrewd,” which suggests keen intelligence as well as cunning. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “capable,” and Bible en français courant “perceptive.” In the context of a slave knowing how to behave wisely for his own benefit, such words as “clever,” “capable,” and “intelligent” seem adequate. Contemporary English Version says “hard-working.” “Rule over” means “to be in charge of” or “to become a master.” “Acts shamefully” renders the same word used in 10.5 (translated “brings shame”) and 14.35. See there for comments.

“And will share the inheritance as one of the brothers”: “Share the inheritance” means to receive a part of the possessions belonging to the father when he dies. The expression “as one of the brothers” means that the slave will replace the disgraced son mentioned in the first line of the saying and will be considered as a son to the father and a brother to his other sons. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translates the whole saying “The capable servant becomes a master of the disgraced son and has part in the inheritance like the other brothers.” See also 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 .