Translation commentary on Proverbs 26:9

This saying is linked in meaning to verse 7.

“Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard”: A “thorn” is a sharp prickle of a thornbush or a bramble; however, interpreters are not agreed on the sense of this image. Is the drunk person trying to remove a thorn stuck in his hand? Or is he using a thorny instrument as a weapon? Good News Translation sees the drunk trying to pull out the thorn. Revised English Bible, Scott, and some others picture the drunk with a weapon. Revised English Bible says “Like a thorn-stick brandished by a drunkard.” Either this form or that of Good News Translation is possible.

“Is a proverb in the mouth of fools”: This line is identical with verse 7b.

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 26:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 26:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “When/If a foolish person uses a proverb
    it is like when a drunk person is holding a thorn(bush).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “For a fool to recite a proverb
    is like a drunk trying to remove
    a thorn from his hand.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The proverb that the foolish-ones is-saying can-harm like a thorny bushes which a drunkard is-holding.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The advice of a foolish-person is like thorns that a drunk-person waves-back-and-forth.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “If a drunk person waves some thorns/brambles with his hand,
    he is not able to accomplish anything useful by doing that (OR, he does not feel it when a thorn sticks in his hand);
    similarly, if foolish people speak proverbs,
    they do not help anyone who hears them.” (Source: Translation for Translators)