complete verse (Proverbs 23:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 23:3:

  • Kupsabiny: “Do not desire (be greedy for) delicious food, for it may become a stumbling block for you.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Don’t be greedy for the feast that he serves.
    because he might be trying to trick you
    (put you under obligation to him).” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “[You (sing.)] do- not -crave for a delicious food which he had-prepared, for he might only tests your (sing.) ways.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Do not (sing.) crave the collectively-delicious foods, because it-is-possible that that is his means-of-tricking you (sing.).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 23:3

This verse gives another piece of advice for the situation presented in verse 1. It is parallel to the advice given in verse 2.

“Do not desire his delicacies”: The Hebrew verb rendered “desire” is used to refer to bodily appetite. A number of versions express this warning as “Don’t be greedy for. . ..” “Delicacies” is a plural noun meaning “tasty or savory food.” Good News Translation renders “his delicacies” as “the fine food he serves”; Contemporary English Version has “all of that fancy food.”

“For they are deceptive food”: This line is the reason for not being greedy for the fine food. The Hebrew is literally “it [is] bread of lies,” but the meaning of this expression is not clear. One suggestion is that it is “food offered with deceitful purpose” (Toy); Good News Translation “he may be trying to trick you” follows this approach. Others think that the food is “deceptive” because it is not really what it looks like; Revised English Bible “they are not what they seem” and Contemporary English Version “It may not be so tasty” are examples of this approach.

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 23:3

23:3

The first line of this verse gives advice that is similar to 23:2. The second line gives a reason for heeding that advice. The underlined parts are similar in meaning. They refer to the same thing.

Do not crave his delicacies,

for that food is deceptive.

23:3a

Do not crave his delicacies: This clause indicates that the young man should not strongly desire the tasty or special food that the ruler has served. Another way to translate this advice is:

Don’t be greedy for the fine food he serves (Good News Translation)

In some languages, it may be clear from the context that the tasty food is his or that he has served it. If that is true in your language, it may be more natural to leave this information implied. For example:

Do not long to eat the many tasty foods

23:3b

for that food is deceptive: This part of the verse gives the reason for not craving the tasty food that the ruler has provided. In some languages, it may be more natural not to introduce this reason with a specific word such as for or “because.” For example:

they are deceitful food (New American Bible)

that food is deceptive: In Hebrew, this figurative expression is literally “it is food of lies.” It refers here to a situation in which everything is not what it appears to be. As a result, the young man who is eating with the ruler may be deceived in some way. The exact nature of the “deception” is ambiguous. It could involve the host, the context of the feast, or the food itself:

(a) The motives of the host are “deceptive.” It may seem like he is being hospitable and is showing special favor to the young man. In fact, his real motive may be to test the young man’s character to see whether he is greedy or lacks self-control. For example:

he may be trying to trick you (Good News Translation)
-or-
he may have a hidden purpose in serving you that good food

(b) The context of the feast is “deceptive.” The young man may think that a feast is an occasion where people can eat as much good food as they want and enjoy themselves. In fact, the feast may be an occasion in which his good judgment or character will be evaluated. For example:

It is possible that the reason/purpose for the feast is not what you expect.

(c) The function of the food is “deceptive.” Normally, a person expects tasty food to provide both pleasure and nutrition. In fact, the food also provides a temptation to be greedy and eat too much. It also gives an opportunity to show restraint and good manners. For example:

because this is food that deceives you (God’s Word)
-or-
because that food might be a trick (New Century Version)

Try to translate this figurative expression so that your readers will understand the nature of the deception as described in one or more of (a), (b), and (c).

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