complete verse (Proverbs 26:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 26:22:

  • Kupsabiny: “How very sweet is gossip to some people!
    It enters those people to the bones.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The words of gossips are tasty choice morsels,
    and they [these words] go into people’s inmost hearts.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A gossip is like food which is good to chew and swallow.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Gossip, it is like delicious food that one likes to swallow.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “People enjoy listening to what gossips say about others just like they enjoy tasty food;
    they enjoy listening to what gossips tell them like they enjoy swallowing tasty food.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 26:22

This verse is identical with 18.8. See there for comments and translation suggestions.

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 .