a little folding of the hands to rest

In Gbaya, the notion of the rest in Proverbs 24:33 is emphasized with ɗɔɗɔɗɔ, an ideophone that refers to a lethargic state or to someone who lacks the energy to do anything.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 24:33-34

The proverbial saying in these two verses expresses what the author learned from observing the result of the farmer’s laziness.

For comments, see 6.10-11, which is almost identical in Hebrew to this passage.

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 24:33)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 24:33:

  • Kupsabiny: “If you spend all your time sleeping saying, ‘Let me still sleep and doze a little and let me also stretch myself,’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If [you] sleep a moment, doze off for a moment,
    fold the hands and rest for a moment,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A little-rest and a little-sleep/[lit. closes-eyes], you (sing.) who are lazy,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “If you (sing.) say/think that you will sleep a little or only rest,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)