Translation commentary on Proverbs 23:10

“Do not remove an ancient landmark”: See the comments on the first line of 22.28.

“Or enter the fields of the fatherless”: This line is parallel in thought, but not in form, with the previous line. “Enter” is the Hebrew word used frequently for “go” and “come”; but the context here shows that it means to “encroach on” (New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) or “take over” (Good News Translation) land that belongs to “the fatherless”, that is, to orphans, those who have no family head to protect their interests.

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 23:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 23:10:

  • Kupsabiny: “Do not move an old boundary, or you extend into the fields of the poor.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Don’t move the boundary marks left by your ancestors.
    Don’t take the fields of the helpless by suppressing them
    [the helpless people].” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “[You (sing.)] do- not -take-by-force the land of the orphans/parentless by moving its ancient landmarks/boundary-marker.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Do not (sing.) cause-to-be-moved an original boundary and do not (sing.) snatch the land of an orphan,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)