“A poor man who oppresses the poor”: This line in Revised Standard Version has the poor oppressing the poor. However, various changes have been proposed for the word rendered “A poor man” to give “the wicked man” and “the violent man.” Some translations follow the Septuagint and translate “A tyrant” (New English Bible/Revised English Bible). Hebrew Old Testament Text Project rates the text of “A poor man” as “B” and translates “a poor leader.” However, “a poor leader” is ambiguous in English, as it may mean a leader who suffers from poverty (which is what Hebrew Old Testament Text Project intends) or one who is incapable. Translations are divided between those like Good News Translation that seem to follow the Septuagint and those like Revised Standard Version. Contemporary English Version appears to follow the advice of Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, combining “poor” and “leader” by saying “When someone poor takes over. . ..” “Oppresses”, as in 14.31, means to exploit, abuse, mistreat. “The poor” refers to poor people in general.

“Is a beating rain that leaves no food”: The poor oppressing the poor is disastrous, and the situation is compared here to destructive rains that ruin the crops and leave the people hungry. “Leaves no food” is literally “and there is no bread.” See Good News Translation “that destroys the crops.” Scott says “is like a devastating rain which ruins the harvest.” One translation of the whole verse says “A leader who treats the poor harshly is like a hurricane that flattens all food in the gardens.”

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 .