“There will be enough goats’ milk for your food”: “Food” renders a word often translated as “bread” or “meat.” Contemporary English Version has used the kind of food actually made from goats’ milk: “cheese.” Scott says “There will be enough goats’ milk to feed you.” “You” is masculine singular in Hebrew, but need not be so restricted.

“For the food of your household”: “Food” is the same term as in the first line, but Hebrew Old Testament Text Project translates “bread” here. The thought is better expressed as “food for your family”; or we may combine it with the first line and say, for example, “. . . enough to feed you and your family.”

“And maintenance for your maidens”: “Maintenance” is literally “lives,” and most versions take it as having the same sense as “food” in the previous two lines. “Maidens” refers to female servants; note Good News Translation “servant women.” We may translate this verse, for example, “There will be goats’ milk for food for you and your family, as well as for your female servants.”

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 .