It is better to live in a corner of the housetop

The Hebrew that is translated as “It is better to live in a corner of the housetop” in English was translated in Tuvan as “It is better to live in a far-off doghouse.” Andrei S. Desnitsky explains (in: The Bible Translator 2018, p. 233ff. ): “The Tuvan’s traditional homes are movable nomadic yurts similar to wigwams and in no way can a man live on the top of the yurt. With modern urban houses this is more realistic but still sounds awkward and does not evoke the scenario implied in the original: an upset husband prefers to spend his nights on a flat roof outside the comfort of his own home to evade his contentious wife. So, the group has chosen the expression ‘to live in a far-off doghouse,’ which would be the least prefer- able dwelling for the Tuvans.”

Translation commentary on Proverbs 25:24

This verse is, with the exception of one Hebrew letter, identical with 21.9. See there for comments.

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 25:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 25:24:

  • Kupsabiny: “It is better for a person to live in a deserted/run down house that living with a contentious/quarrelsome woman.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “It is better to live alone in a corner of a roof terrace
    than to live in the same house with a quarrelsome wife.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “(It is) better to live on the roof of a house than to live inside the house with a quarrelsome wife.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “It-is-better to stay on the outside of your (sing.) house than to reside-with a quarrelsome and habitually-complaining spouse.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “It is better to live alone/by yourself in the corner of an attic/housetop
    than to live inside the house with a wife who is always nagging.” (Source: Translation for Translators)